Don McGahn

Early life and education

McGahn grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the son of Noreen (Rogan) and Donald McGahn. He attended the United States Naval Academy before receiving a BA in history and computer applications from the University of Notre Dame in 1991. He obtained his JD from Widener University School of Law in 1994 and, as of 2009, had completed coursework toward an LLM at Georgetown University Law Center.

Career

Following his graduation from law school, McGahn worked in campaign finance law at the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Patton Boggs.

National Republican Congressional Committee

From 1999 to 2008, McGahn was chief counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). During the early 2000s, he defended House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for his actions during the controversial 2003 Texas redistricting plan. McGahn also represented DeLay in 2005 during a Federal Election Commission audit of the records of Americans for a Republican Majority, DeLay's political action committee.

In 2005, when DeLay was indicted for funneling campaign contributions into the Texans for a Republican Majority PAC (TRMPAC), McGahn said that "money gets transferred all the time". McGahn also defended DeLay regarding contributions made by Russian oil tycoons to the U.S. Family Network. During McGahn's tenure as in-house counsel for the NRCC, it was investigated by the FBI and its treasurer was convicted of embezzlement.

Following the 2004 elections, McGahn established a legal practice, McGahn & Associates PLLC. He has represented the Koch brothers-funded Freedom Partners.

Federal Election Commission

McGahn was considered for the Federal Election Commission in 2005, but was passed over due to difficulty replacing him at the NRCC and concerns about his former work as ethics lawyer for Congressman DeLay.

George W. Bush nominated McGahn as a Republican-selected member of the Federal Election Commission in 2008. He was confirmed on June 24, 2008 by the United States Senate and was sworn in shortly thereafter. He is credited as having played a crucial role in loosening regulations on campaign spending. In 2013, McGahn advocated for rules that would require FEC approval for its staffers to share information with federal prosecutors. Critics of the proposed rule said it would interfere with the FEC and Justice Department prosecutions of election violations. McGahn resigned from the FEC in September 2013.

After leaving the FEC, McGahn returned to the law firm Patton Boggs. In 2014 he moved to the law firm of Jones Day in Washington, D.C. He represented former Representative Aaron Schock as a client while Schock was being investigated for misuse of federal funds.

Trump administration

McGahn served as Donald Trump's campaign counsel during his 2016 campaign for president. In November 2015, he helped stop an attempt to remove Trump from the New Hampshire Republican Party primary ballot.

On November 25, 2016, following Trump's election, McGahn was named White House Counsel for the President-elect's new administration.

Personal life

McGahn is married to Shannon McGahn, staff director of the House Banking Committee. They have two sons. McGahn owns 30 guitars and plays a Gibson Les Paul in Scott's New Band, an '80s cover band that performs in Ocean City, Maryland.