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Elliot Williams

  • CNN Legal Analyst
  • Former Senior Justice Department Leader and Federal Prosecutor
  • Government Affairs and Policy Counsel, The Raben Group
  • 15 Years of Experience in All Three Branches of Government

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Former senior justice department leader and federal prosecutor Elliot Williams is currently a legal analyst on CNN. His signature reasoned and intelligent analysis have established him as a go-to voice for legal and political analysis today. An expert in advocacy before Congress, he is a Principal in the Government Affairs and Policy Counsel practice group at The Raben Group, a national public affairs firm based in Washington. With a candid, thoughtful, and humorous approach, Elliot draws on his 15 years of working in all three branches of government and offers his audiences a front-row seat to navigating the legal, political, and cultural headlines of the day.

As a regular guest host on SiriusXM’s nonpartisan political talk radio network, Elliot has guided senators, governors, cabinet officials, and other newsmakers through enlightening discussions of law, politics, immigration, foreign policy, the arts, sports, and a broad range of topics. His commentary has appeared on NPR and in The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, USA Today, CNN.com, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, HuffPost, The Hill, NBC News' THINK, and Axios. Elliot was a Spring 2022 Fellow at the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service. He has been in-demand with groups including the American Constitution Society, MER Conference, The Doe Fund, the Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition, and more.

 

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Past Hosts Include:
  • The Square One Project
  • American Constitution Society
  • MER Conference
  • The Doe Fund
  • Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition
  • Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
Rave Reviews About Elliot Williams
“
Elliot's role as Emcee at The Doe Fund's first return to an in-person Gala post pandemic in 2021 was a game changer. His profound expertise on criminal justice reform, insightful and timely social commentary, and engaging personality elevated the event to the next level. Any organization would be fortunate to have his talent, intellect and passion advancing its mission.

”
More rave reviews

"Elliot Williams was the opening keynote at the annual MER Conference on Information Governance and he had the audience buzzing for days afterwards. His insight, candor and engaging personality captivated the audience from the moment he took the stage. Elliot deftly navigated the potentially politically charged issue that was at the center of his discussion as he took the audience on a journey into the workings of the Government.  His keynote address elevated the conference to new levels of excellence and any organization would benefit greatly from having Elliot on their stage."

-MER Conference

"Elliot was the perfect choice to moderate a session at our annual summit. He had clearly done his homework and was well versed in the session subject matter. He was also personable, funny, and engaging. Elliot's profile gained from his high-ranking government service and frequent national television appearances added luster and credibility to the session, and helped us attract C-Span coverage and a large in-person audience. He stayed after the session and chatted with various audience members--from students to donors--who were happy to have the opportunity to engage with him one-on-one. Elliot's expertise, charisma, humor, and accessibility added significant value to our event--we'd have him back any time."

-The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

"Elliot helped make the launch event for our new book on the values of justice a huge success. He seamlessly wove together a deep understanding of the politics, policy, and substance - all in a lively and entertaining discussion. He was a big hit!"

-The Square One Project

"Elliot and another guest were the headlining panel for our premier annual event and his light, witty yet informed banter helped us make the session a great one. The audience appreciated his mix of political knowledge and smart insights, and we were grateful for his humor and predictions for the upcoming midterm elections."

-The Senior Care Pharmacy Coalition
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Ex-Trump Organization CFO willing to testify against Trump Org. if case advances | CNN AC360 - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Elliot Williams
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Politics and the law square off. Guess which one wins?

Elliot has seen law in many arenas and worked closely with elected and appointed officials in helping to shape our legal system. He addresses topics such as whether politics can really be kept out of the legal system; how today’s political attitudes affect how we see the law; the differences between ...

Elliot has seen law in many arenas and worked closely with elected and appointed officials in helping to shape our legal system. He addresses topics such as whether politics can really be kept out of the legal system; how today’s political attitudes affect how we see the law; the differences between political and legal accountability, and why both matter; and how the ways we consume information today give us unrealistic expectations of what to expect from our legal system.

Covering the Trial(s) of the Century

Elliot has had a front seat to working on or covering some of today’s biggest legal stories, and has some questions to answer about what they say about us. Why do some legal questions or trials capture the public’s consciousness? Why are people losing faith in institutions - including the courts? Ho ...

Elliot has had a front seat to working on or covering some of today’s biggest legal stories, and has some questions to answer about what they say about us. Why do some legal questions or trials capture the public’s consciousness? Why are people losing faith in institutions - including the courts? How does social media affect… everything?

An Insider’s Take on Washington in 2023 and 2024

Before working in media, Elliot spent fifteen years working in all three branches of government, as a career civil servant and political appointee. He takes audiences behind the scenes of how government really works, and what to look for in the coming year. ...

Before working in media, Elliot spent fifteen years working in all three branches of government, as a career civil servant and political appointee. He takes audiences behind the scenes of how government really works, and what to look for in the coming year.

The Path to Public Service: From Kingston to Camp David

How does a first-generation child of Jamaican immigrants end up in some of the most exclusive spaces in government and politics? With humor, Elliot describes his career path and personal challenges, offering inspiring life lessons for anyone who’s considered a path to public service. ...

How does a first-generation child of Jamaican immigrants end up in some of the most exclusive spaces in government and politics? With humor, Elliot describes his career path and personal challenges, offering inspiring life lessons for anyone who’s considered a path to public service.

Everything I Needed to Know I Learned From Cooking

Outside of his work in law and politics, Elliot is an avid cook and baker. From figuring out - quite literally - how sausage is made to knowing when to trust your instincts, many lessons in life and leadership can be learned right in the kitchen. ...

Outside of his work in law and politics, Elliot is an avid cook and baker. From figuring out - quite literally - how sausage is made to knowing when to trust your instincts, many lessons in life and leadership can be learned right in the kitchen.

The Lasting Impact of America’s History of Discrimination

CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams brings an unmatched perspective on race, racial justice, and the pursuit of equity in our political and legal systems – and in American society. Leveraging his expertise in the public and private sector, Elliot offers substantial analysis on critical race theory, th ...

CNN legal analyst Elliot Williams brings an unmatched perspective on race, racial justice, and the pursuit of equity in our political and legal systems – and in American society. Leveraging his expertise in the public and private sector, Elliot offers substantial analysis on critical race theory, the politicization of the court system, and how America’s history of discrimination continues to impact our systems and policies today.

Reforming the Criminal Justice System

In this compelling talk, Elliot Williams unpacks the case for reforming the criminal justice system. With broad public consensus about the need for major reforms, Elliot draws on his work in the public and private sector – and in all three branches of government – to bring clarity to the nuances of ...

In this compelling talk, Elliot Williams unpacks the case for reforming the criminal justice system. With broad public consensus about the need for major reforms, Elliot draws on his work in the public and private sector – and in all three branches of government – to bring clarity to the nuances of criminal justice reform with reasoned and insightful analysis.

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Press & Media
A new ‘golden age’ for lawyers who are good at talking on TV - Washington Post
'Glaring conflict of interest': Williams reacts to Trump special master nominee - CNN
Opinion: This glass of water explains how classified documents get out - CNN
CNN analyst: 25 'top secret' documents could 'cause exceptionally grave damage to national security' if released - CNN
Analyst breaks down how much weight Jan. 6 criminal referrals hold - CNN
Appeals court questions access that prosecutors can have to a GOP lawmaker's phone seized in 2020 election investigation - CNN
Opinion: What Democrats could learn from Mitch McConnell - CNN
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Biography

Former senior justice department leader and federal prosecutor Elliot Williams is currently a legal analyst on CNN. His signature reasoned and intelligent analysis have established him as a go-to voice for legal and political analysis today.

As a regular guest host on SiriusXM’s nonpartisan political talk radio network, he has guided senators, governors, cabinet officials, and other newsmakers through enlightening discussions of law, politics, immigration, foreign policy, the arts, sports, and a broad range of topics.

His commentary has appeared on NPR and in The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, USA Today, CNN.com, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, HuffPost, The Hill, NBC News' THINK, and Axios.

An expert in advocacy before Congress, he is a Principal in the Government Affairs and Policy Counsel practice group at The Raben Group, a national public affairs firm based in Washington. He served as a Deputy Assistant Attorney General and criminal trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, an Assistant Director for congressional relations at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. In 2015, the National Law Journal named him a “Rising Star,” and he was a Spring 2022 Fellow at the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service.

With a candid, thoughtful, and humorous approach, Elliot draws on his 15 years of working in all three branches of government and offers his audiences a front-row seat to navigating the legal, political, and cultural headlines of the day.

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