Bold Voices against Extremism

Speakers

• Karen L. Dunn

  Prosecutor of neo-Nazis and white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia

  Karen is one of the nation’s top trial lawyers. She has successfully tried some of the largest and most high-profile cases in recent years, including Epic v. Apple, Waymo v. Uber, Malden v. Uber, and Oracle v. Rimini Street. Recently, she won a historic victory in Sines v. Kessler, the landmark civil rights trial against neo-Nazis and white supremacists responsible for the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017.

  A veteran of all three branches of government and former debate adviser to President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Vice President Kamala Harris, Karen is also a skilled crisis manager helping companies and executives navigate reputation-threatening events.

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  Karen was recently named a “Litigator of the Year” by The American Lawyer for handling “high-stakes, high-profile and hard-fought” cases. She has also been named a “Litigator of the Week” five times; one of the National Law Journal’s “Outstanding Women Lawyers”; one of Benchmark Litigation’s “Top-10 Women in Litigation” and “Top 100 Trial Lawyers”; and one of Elle magazine’s “Most Compelling Women in Washington Now.”

  Earlier in her career, Karen served as an assistant United States attorney, associate counsel to the President, and law clerk to Justice Stephen G. Breyer and Judge Merrick B. Garland.

• Jason Van Tatenhove

  Author, journalist, and advocate against extremism

  Jason is a distinguished author and journalist renowned for his penetrating narrative non-fiction on violent political extremism. As a former national media director and associate editor for the Oath Keepers, Jason provides an unparalleled insider's perspective on one of America's most notorious anti-government extremist groups.

  Jason's personal connection to this fight is deeply rooted in his blended Jewish family. Witnessing these groups' descent into Holocaust denial and American Nazi ideologies compelled him to take a stand. This marked a critical turning point, leading him to resign and dedicate his voice to combating the spread of such dangerous ideologies.

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  Today, Jason is a prominent voice against extremism, featured in documentaries, national news, podcasts, and his impactful testimony on day seven of the televised proceedings of the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. Through his work, including the influential Colorado Switchblade Substack, he educates and informs about the perils of extremist ideologies and misinformation. He draws critical parallels with historical events like the Holocaust, making his insights invaluable in discussions on political extremism and its societal impacts. His book, The Perils of Extremism, sheds light on the inner workings of a group the FBI labels a domestic terror threat. His firsthand experiences with figures such as Stewart Rhodes offer an intimate look into the world of right-wing extremism. Over the past year, Jason has also served as a consultant with Georgetown Law’s Institute for Constitutional Protection and Advocacy, furthering his commitment to safeguarding constitutional values and fighting against extremism.