Former Commerce Official and Lawyer in Bush White House Convicted of Attempted Murder
Farren could serve up to 50 years in prison when sentenced.
John Michael Farren, who served as a White House lawyer in both Bush administrations, was convicted of attempted murder on Friday.
Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Farren choked his wife, Mary Margaret Farren, and beat her with a metal flashlight until she lost consciousness at their multimillion-dollar home in New Canaan in January 2010. She managed to flee the house with her two young daughters. The attack occurred two days after she had served him with divorce papers, the authorities said.
Farren was deputy White Counsel during President George W. Bush's second term and undersecretary for international trade in the Commerce Department under the elder Bush; he also served as deputy manager for Bush's failed 1992 re-election campaign. Farren was also general counsel for the Xerox Corporation.
After successfully blocking the trial for four years and convincing the court to try him in absentia, Farren could serve up to 50 years in prison when sentenced.