Traxler, Jr. W. Thomas

Thomas W. Traxler, Jr.

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 2010
    • Editor in Chief, South Carolina Law Review
    • Dean’s Medallion (awarded to valedictorian of graduating class)
    • CALI Award (13 classes)
    • Order of the Coif
    • Claud N. Sapp Award
    • Compleat Lawyer Bronze Award
  • Vanderbilt University, B.A., magna cum laude, 2007

Clerkships

  • Law Clerk, Judge Diane S. Sykes, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2012-2013
  • Law Clerk, Judge Henry F. Floyd, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2011-2012, and U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, 2010-2011

Government Service

  • Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Division, Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria Division), 2017-2023

Admitted

  • 2010, South Carolina
  • 2013, District of Columbia

Thomas “Tommy” Traxler is a trial lawyer who focuses on complex civil litigation and white-collar criminal defense.  A former federal prosecutor, Tommy has substantial experience leading teams in high-profile litigation, conducting sensitive investigations, and trying cases to juries.  Tommy has represented clients in a wide array of civil disputes, including antitrust, intellectual property, class action, securities, financial, and other commercial litigation. 

For nearly seven years, Tommy served as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Eastern District of Virginia, the federal court known as the “Rocket Docket” for the speed in which it resolves cases.  As an AUSA in the National Security and International Crime Unit, Tommy led teams in investigating and prosecuting national security and extraterritorial offenses.  Among other responsibilities, Tommy first chaired jury trials, argued substantive motions in federal district court, examined witnesses in grand jury proceedings, and argued and briefed appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Tommy frequently handled high-profile cases that garnered national and international attention.  He was a lead prosecutor in the case against Julian Assange, the founder and leader of WikiLeaks, for conduct related to one of the largest leaks of classified information in American history.  Tommy handled widely publicized civil-contempt proceedings related to Chelsea Manning’s refusal to testify before the grand jury.  Tommy also led the team that secured the conviction of a former U.S. Army Special Forces officer for participating in a 14-year espionage conspiracy with Russian intelligence agents.  And Tommy played a significant role on the team that brought the first-ever indictment under the federal War Crimes Act, charging Russian-affiliated soldiers with torture, inhuman treatment, and unlawful confinement of a U.S. national in Ukraine.

Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Tommy was an associate at Kellogg Hansen and a law clerk for two federal judges.  Tommy graduated first in his class from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was Editor in Chief of the South Carolina Law Review, and earned his undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University.

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Representative Experience

  • United States v. Assange, No. 1:18-CR-111 (E.D. Va.). Served as one of the lead prosecutors of Julian Assange, the founder and leader of WikiLeaks, for illegally obtaining and disclosing national defense information in connection with one of the largest leaks of classified information in American history. Assange pleaded guilty to conspiring to obtain and disclose classified documents relating to the national defense.
  • In re Grand Jury (Chelsea Manning), Nos. 1:19-DM-3 & 1:19-DM-12 (E.D. Va.). Served as one of the lead prosecutors in civil-contempt proceedings against Chelsea Manning for her refusal to testify before the grand jury.  Successfully argued in opposition to her motion to quash the subpoena, advocated that she be sanctioned for civil contempt for refusing to testify before the grand jury, and defended the contempt order on appeal.
  • United States v. Debbins, No. 1:20-cr-193 (E.D. Va.). Served as the lead prosecutor in securing the conviction of a former Special Forces officer who pleaded guilty to participating in a 14-year espionage conspiracy with Russian intelligence agents.
  • United States v. Speed, No. 1:22-cr-165 (E.D. Va.). Served as the lead prosecutor in securing the conviction in a jury trial of a January 6 participant who possessed a Top Secret security clearance and espoused the use of violence to wipe out the Jewish population, for unlawful possession of unregistered firearm silencers.
  • United States v. Montes-Bobadilla, No. 1:15-cr-290 (E.D. Va.). Served as the lead prosecutor in securing the convictions, through guilty pleas and trial by jury, of extradited leaders and associates of one of the largest drug cartels in Honduras for their participation in a large-scale, violent international cocaine-trafficking conspiracy.
  • United States v. Mkrtchyan, No. 3:23-cr-161 (E.D. Va.). Served in a significant role on the team that brought the first-ever indictment under the federal War Crimes Act against four Russian-affiliated soldiers for alleged war crimes committed against a U.S. national in Ukraine.
  • United States v. Amin, 85 F.4th 727 (4th Cir. 2023). Served as the lead prosecutor in successfully defending the district court’s order revoking the supervised release of a defendant who had been convicted of conspiring to provide material support or resources to ISIS.  After hearing oral argument, the Fourth Circuit issued a published opinion affirming on all grounds.
  • In re Steel Antitrust Litigation, No. 08-cv-5214 (N.D. Ill.). Represented a class of direct purchasers in a class action alleging that manufacturers colluded to reduce steel output and stabilize prices.
  • Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co. (Va. Cir. Ct.). Represented Alpha Natural Resources’ subsidiary A.T. Massey Coal Company in a long-running and highly publicized lawsuit brought by Hugh Caperton and his coal companies asserting claims of fraud and tortious interference.  Prior to Kellogg Hansen’s involvement, plaintiffs had won a jury verdict in West Virginia against Massey for more than $50 million.  After that verdict was overturned on appeal, plaintiffs brought the same case in Virginia, this time seeking more than $100 million in damages.  Massey hired Kellogg Hansen for the Virginia trial.  After a 5-week trial, the jury awarded only $5 million.  The trial court granted a new trial on damages but further proceedings were stayed due to Alpha’s unrelated filing of bankruptcy.
  • Bank of New York Mellon Foreign Exchange Transactions Litigation– Defended the Bank of New York Mellon in litigation challenging foreign exchange services provided to customers.
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Achievements and Memberships

  • FBI Washington Field Office Service Awards (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • Permanent Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference

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