Norman Eisen

Ambassador Norman L. Eisen (ret.) is the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of the States United Democracy Center. An attorney and author who has served in a broad array of government roles, he was special counsel and special assistan to President Barack Obama for ethics and government reform from 2009-11. Following his service in the White House, he was ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2011-14, where he was noted for his rule of law and other initiatives. Eisen is currently a senior fellow at a D.C. think tank and a legal analyst for a cable television network in addition to his duties at States United. His writing has frequently appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, USA Today, and CNN. He has been named to the Washingtonian's Most Influential People, Politico 50, and the Forward 50. Eisen was the inspiration for the crusading attorney Deputy Kovacs in Wes Anderson's movie, The Grand Budapest Hotel.