For Immediate Release(New York, NY) – President-elect Donald J. Trump is also pleased to add Mr. Don McGahn as Assistant to the President and White House Counsel.
Mr. McGahn has a distinguished legal career that spans two decades. Mr. McGahn served as general counsel for President-elect Trump’s campaign and currently on transition and will continue providing expert advice and counsel in the Trump-Pence Administration.
“Don has a brilliant legal mind, excellent character and a deep understanding of constitutional law,” said President-elect Trump. “He will play a critical role in our administration, and I am grateful that he is willing to serve our country at such a high-level capacity.”
“I am honored to continue advising President-elect Trump in the Trump-Pence Administration,” said Mr. McGahn. “President-elect Trump is a bold leader committed to draining the swamp in Washington and restoring economic prosperity and security. I look forward to serving the American public in this role.”
“Donald McGahn will make an excellent counsel to the president," said Ed Meese, Attorney General and Counselor to President Ronald Reagan. "Throughout his distinguished career as a lawyer and government official, he has dealt ably with the intersection between politics, government ethics, and the rule of law.”
“The Counsel to the President needs solid Washington experience, but also a serious prior relationship with the President that allows for candor, and a practical understanding of how government agencies function. It also is enormously useful to have a working knowledge of government ethics and election law. Donald McGahn possesses all these attributes and can serve President-elect Trump well,” said C. Boyden Gray, White House Counsel to President George H.W. Bush.
Mr. McGahn is currently a partner at Jones Day in Washington, DC, and has specialized in political law, including government ethics. He has successfully counseled and defended a wide range of clients including federal and state candidates, members of Congress, national and state political party committees, nonprofits and trade associations.
Mr. McGahn served as a member of the FEC five years, during which he served as both chairman and vice chairman. He was named to the 2014 "Influencers 50" list in Campaigns & Electionsmagazine (November 18, 2013), and cited as "one of the most influential commissioners in the history of the FEC" and one with strong relationships on both sides of the aisle.
In addition, he served as general counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) for nearly 10 years, where he counseled members of Congress regarding ethics.
Mr. McGahn earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D. from Widener University.
