Who Is John Flannery on MSNBC?
John Flannery is an American attorney and legal commentator. John P. Flannery II is a practicing attorney who hosts a daily YouTube broadcast and appears as a guest commentator on television. He appears on MS NOW, the network formerly named MSNBC, and on other networks. He has also commented on law and politics for CNN and Fox.
What Are the 7 Key Facts About John Flannery?
The table below lists 7 facts about John Flannery. Each row names an attribute, and each cell gives the detail.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | The Bronx, New York City |
| Education | Fordham University (BS), Columbia Engineering (BS), Columbia Law School (JD), George Washington School of Business (MSIS) |
| Prosecutor role | Assistant U.S. Attorney, Southern District of New York, 1974 to 1979 |
| Private practice | Co-founder of Campbell Flannery, 1988 |
| Capitol Hill roles | Special Counsel to Senate and House committees, chief of staff to Rep. Zoe Lofgren |
| Congressional candidacy | Democratic candidate in Virginia’s 10th District, 1984 |
| Media role | Guest legal commentator on MS NOW, formerly MSNBC |
How Old Is John Flannery?
John Flannery is 80 years old as of October 2026. A public records listing reports his birth date as May 15, 1946. His 1968 undergraduate graduation fits this date. Wikipedia does not list his birth date.
Where Did John Flannery Study?
John Flannery earned 4 degrees. He graduated from Fordham University in 1968 with a BS in Physics. He earned a second degree in Industrial Engineering in 1969 and a JD in 1972, both from Columbia University. He received an MSIS in Information Science from the George Washington School of Business in 2002.
What Was John Flannery’s Career as a Prosecutor?
John Flannery served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York from 1974 to 1979. He started his legal career as a law clerk in the same district court from 1972 to 1974. His cases included the bribery of Congressman Daniel Flood by a rabbi and heroin trafficking by organized crime figures, including “Matty” Madonna.
What Roles Did John Flannery Hold on Capitol Hill?
John Flannery held 4 main congressional roles between 1982 and 2001:
- Special Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, who drafted a 1982 staff report on the Justice Department’s handling of an investigation tied to Robert Vesco.
- Special Counsel to the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources (1982 to 1983), who investigated the FBI’s disclosures about Labor Secretary nominee Raymond J. Donovan.
- Special Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee (1998 to 1999), who worked with the Democratic minority during the impeachment of Bill Clinton.
- Special Counsel and Chief of Staff to Rep. Zoe Lofgren (1999 to 2001).
These details come from his Wikipedia entry, which cites Justia and congressional reports.
Did John Flannery Run for Congress?
Yes, John Flannery ran for Congress in 1984. He lost Virginia’s 10th District race to Republican incumbent Frank Wolf. He reports winning 95,000 votes in the general election.
What Is John Flannery Known for as a Defense Lawyer and Author?
John Flannery is known for the Richard Paey case and the book Pain in America. He appealed the 2004 Florida conviction of Richard Paey, a chronic pain patient, and Paey received a full pardon from Governor Charlie Crist in 2007. He wrote Pain in America and How Our Government Makes It Worse in 2007. He has also testified before Congress as an expert witness on drug enforcement.
What Does John Flannery Do in Media?
John Flannery works across 4 formats:
- Television commentary on MS NOW, including appearances on The Beat with Ari Melber in 2019 and 2025
- Daily 15-minute video essays on YouTube since August 2020
- More than 20 podcast episodes of Let Freedom Ring (2020 to 2023)
- More than 80 essays on Medium
These formats are listed in his Wikipedia entry.
What Is the Career Timeline of John Flannery?
The career timeline has 8 milestones:
- Graduates from Fordham University (1968).
- Earns a JD from Columbia University (1972).
- Serves as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York (1974 to 1979).
- Joins private practice at Poletti Freidin Prashker Feldman & Gartner (1979 to 1983).
- Runs for Congress in Virginia’s 10th District (1984).
- Co-founds Campbell Flannery (1988).
- Serves as Special Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee (1998 to 1999).
- Wins a pardon for Richard Paey (2007).
Where Does John Flannery Live?
John Flannery lives in Lovettsville, Virginia. He lives on a farm there with his wife, Holly. He is an elected representative of the Loudoun County Soil and Water Conservation District.
What Is John Flannery’s Net Worth?
No verified net worth exists for John Flannery. Several low quality pages publish estimates without sourcing. These figures are excluded here.
People Also Ask
Is John Flannery on MSNBC a lawyer?
Yes, John Flannery is a practicing attorney and former federal prosecutor.
Is John Flannery on MSNBC the former GE CEO?
No, the MSNBC commentator is a lawyer and a different person from the former General Electric chief executive of the same name.
Which law school did John Flannery attend?
John Flannery earned his JD from Columbia University in 1972.
Does John Flannery have a Wikipedia page?
Yes, Wikipedia lists him as John P. Flannery II.
Is John Flannery married?
John Flannery is married to his wife, Holly.
Who Is John Flannery in Summary?
John Flannery is a Bronx-born attorney who studied at Fordham and Columbia and served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1974 to 1979. He worked as Special Counsel to Senate and House committees and ran for Congress in 1984. He co-founded Campbell Flannery in 1988 and won a pardon for Richard Paey in 2007. He now appears as a legal commentator on MS NOW, formerly MSNBC.