Former U.S. attorney general John AshcroftJohn Ashcroft, former attorney general under George W. Bush, is taking a position at Xe, the security contractor formerly known as Blackwater.
Ashcroft will become an "independent director" at the firm, which was founded by Holland native Erik Prince. Wired reports Ashcroft will head up Xe's new subcommittee on governance, which aims to "maximize governance, compliance and accountability" and "promote the highest degrees of ethics and professionalism within the private security industry."
The Hill quotes a statement by Red McCombs, board chairman of U.S. Training Center Holdings (a group of investors that now owns the firm), on Ashcroft's new position: "We are ecstatic and honored to have Attorney General Ashcroft join the USTC team. His relevant experience, unparalleled reputation for integrity and personal commitment to ethics, transparency, and excellence make him a valuable addition to the Company."
Blackwater dropped its name in 2009 as part of an effort to improve its image after Blackwater operatives were accused of killing 14 unarmed civilians in Iraq. The case against the guards, initially dismissed, recently was reinstated by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington.
Prince sold the firm last year and is no longer involved with its operation.
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