Las Vegas attorney tapped for Homeland Security position

President Donald Trump appointed Las Vegas attorney David Chesnoff to a position in the Homeland Security Advisory Council, the administration announced Tuesday.

Chesnoff, one of the city’s most prominent criminal defense attorneys, will assist Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem in protecting the country, focusing on national security and anti-terrorism, he told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday.

“I’m extremely proud, and I look forward to hard work at a time in our country’s history where the protection of the homeland is very important,” Chesnoff said. “I’m glad they added someone with my life experience and work on constitutional issues over the years.”

The council, formed in 2022, provides the secretary of homeland security with advice on homeland security operations. Chesnoff is one of 22 new appointed members, joining Rudy Giuliani and Mark Levin, a broadcast news analyst, and others, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

Chesnoff has been practicing law in Las Vegas for 45 years and was a law partner of former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman. He has represented notable clients over the years, including Bruno Mars, Mike Tyson and Michael Jackson’s family, as well as high-profile defendants such as former Raiders player Henry Ruggs and ex-FBI informant Alexander Smirnov.

“In Vegas, you get to meet a cross section of people from all over the country and all over the world, so I’ve been fortunate enough to understand differences between people, and I also have been involved in the criminal justice system,” Chesnoff said. “I think that adds to my ability to help.”

In 2023, Chesnoff, who is Jewish, went to Israel for a week to help the country amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. He volunteered at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv and helped with the inventory of supplies and materials used to treat wounded soldiers.

Over the years Chesnoff has donated to political campaigns on both sides of the aisle, including Democratic Rep. Susie Lee and Democratic Sen. Jacky Rosen and Republican Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.

Chesnoff said he identifies as an independent thinker but added that he supports Trump.

The position is part time and voluntary, Chesnoff said. The advisory council will hold its first meeting July 2 in Washington, D.C.

Contact Jessica Hill at jehill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @jess_hillyeah on X.