Senior Legal Analyst in CNN, Former Assistant U.S Attorney

Elie Honig | Biography

Honig has been serving as an executive director of Rutgers Institute for Secure Communities at Rutgers University since 2018

• By Reena Chikanbanjar
• Original : September 14, 2021

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Elie Honig is a CNN senior legal analyst. He is also a host of podcasts ‘Up Against The Mob’ and ‘Third Degree.’

Who is Elie Honig?

Elie Honig is a legal analyst, podcast host, author, and former federal and state prosecutor. He currently serves as a senior legal analyst at CNN and a special counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP. Honig hosts two podcasts, Up Against The Mob and Third Degree. He published his first book titled ‘Hatchet Man’ in July 2021. 

Honig formerly worked as a federal and state prosecutor for 14 years. He was an assistant attorney general at the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice from 2012 to 2018. Before that, he worked as an assistant United States attorney of the Southern District of New York from 2004 to 2012.

Early Life and Education

Elie Honig was born on 3 April 1975. Honig grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. He then earned a J.D. degree from Harvard University in 2000.

Career

After earning a J.D. degree, Honig started working as an associate for a Washington, D.C.-based law firm called Covington & Burling LLP in September 2000. He worked at the law firm for more than three years. 

From April 2004 to September 2012, Honig served as an assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. During that time, he successfully prosecuted over 100 members and associates of a Mafia group called La Cosa Nostra, including leaders and high-ranking members of Gambino and Genovese crime families. As an assistant United States attorney, he prosecuted and tried cases involving organized crimes, human trafficking, public corruption, and violent crimes in the federal appellate courts and the New Jersey Supreme Court.

In September 2012, he joined the Division of Criminal Justice at the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety. As an assistant attorney general at the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, Honig oversaw criminal cases against drug trafficking organizations, street gangs, illegal firearms traffickers, child predators, white-collar offenders, and corrupt public officials.

Honig left the criminal justice division in May 2018 to become a special counsel at Lowenstein Sandler LLP, a law firm based in Roseland, New Jersey. He then started working with partners in the white-collar defense practice as an advisor on investigations and trial strategy. As per his profile on Lowenstein Sandler’s official website, Honig helps clients limit their risk, protect their reputations, and achieve positive outcomes.

As a Legal Analyst

While working with Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Honig also began his CNN journey in October 2018 as a legal analyst. At CNN, he provides informed commentary and analysis on timely legal and government issues, including criminal justice and national security. 

In addition to CNN, Honig regularly provides his expert opinions in publications including the New York Times, Washington Post, Time, The Atlantic, Newsweek, The Guardian, Financial Times, Bloomberg, and Business Insider.

As an Author

Honig released his first book titled ‘Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr Broke the Prosecutor’s Code and Corrupted the Justice Department’ on 6 July 2021. In his book, he used his experience as a prosecutor at the Division of Criminal Justice to uncover the former United States Attorney General William Pelham “Bill” Barr’s abuse of power and violation of the prosecutor’s code.

Also, he writes articles for the Cafe Brief newsletter. 

As a Podcaster

On 8 February 2021, Honig launched Third Degree, a weekly podcast that focuses on law and politics. He also invites law students on his weekly podcast to discuss the issues relating to the next generation of lawyers.

Honig then started hosting a new podcast titled Up Against The Mob on 20 August 2021. In this podcast, Honig invites cops, undercover agents, defense lawyers, and mobsters-turned-cooperators to talk about the criminal organization.

Additional Works

Honig has been serving as an executive director of Rutgers Institute for Secure Communities at Rutgers University since May 2018. The institute focuses on educating undergraduate students about intelligence, cybersecurity, ethics, and criminal justice. Honig has been teaching students about researching, developing, drafting, and presenting briefings similar to those used by intelligence professionals. 

Rutgers Institute for Secure Communities also develops data-driven analytics for law enforcement and works with endangered populations in the United States and Europe to test community policing.

Personal Life

Honig is married to Rachael, who is also an attorney by profession. According to her LinkedIn profile, Rachael works as an acting United States attorney at the United States Attorneys’ Offices. 

The couple has two children, one son and one daughter. Honig shared on Instagram in March 2021 that his 15-year-old son is working as an ice cream scooper.