Career Prosecutor Braniff Sworn In as U.S. Attorney

William Braniff, a career federal prosecutor with a strong record in military procurement fraud cases, was sworn in Tuesday as U.S. attorney for San Diego and Imperial counties.

Braniff, 48, is now the district’s chief federal prosecutor and is responsible for representing the United States in civil and criminal proceedings in state and federal district courts. His territory is officially called the Southern District of California.

“I’m really quite proud,” Braniff said. “I’m excited about the position. It’s always been sort of the pinnacle. Now, to reach that position is indeed quite rewarding. I’ve come to appreciate the job even more now that I’ve been appointed.”

Braniff has worked for almost a year as interim U.S. attorney and succeeds Peter Nunez, who stepped down last August to join a law firm. Braniff was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 31 and appointed by President Bush on Aug. 1.

Sen. Pete Wilson, a Republican, nominated Braniff for the position in 1988 because of Braniff’s experience in prosecuting drug traffickers and those involved with military procurement fraud. Braniff’s selection as a permanent replacement for Nunez had been dependent on the outcome of the presidential election last November, insiders said at the time.

Braniff transferred to the San Diego U.S. attorney’s office in 1980 from Newark, N.J., where he was chief of the criminal division. He was sworn in as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Newark office in 1970.

Braniff, born in New York and raised in New Jersey, is a paraplegic as a result of a 1960 auto accident. He was graduated from Rutgers University Law School in 1969 after completing his undergraduate work at Seton Hall University in 1966.