Donald Francis McGahn II is an American lawyer who served as White House Counsel for US President Donald Trump, from the day of Trump's inauguration through October 17,2018, when McGahn resigned.
27 Facts About Don McGahn
2.
Previously, McGahn served on the Federal Election Commission for over five years.
3.
In November 2019, Don McGahn received a court order to testify before the USHouse of Representatives.
4.
Don McGahn was born on June 16,1968 and grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the son of Noreen and Donald F McGahn.
5.
Don McGahn is a nephew of Joseph McGahn, former Democratic New Jersey State Senator and medical director at Donald Trump's Resorts International, and Atlantic City attorney Patrick McGahn, who had represented Trump's casino interests from 1982 until Trump sued him for alleged overbilling in 1995.
6.
Don McGahn attended Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Atlantic City and Holy Spirit High School in nearby Absecon.
7.
Don McGahn briefly attended the United States Naval Academy before transferring to the University of Notre Dame.
8.
Don McGahn obtained his JD degree from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 1994.
9.
From 1999 to 2008, Don McGahn was chief counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
10.
Don McGahn was confirmed on June 24,2008 by the United States Senate and was sworn in shortly thereafter.
11.
Don McGahn is credited as having played a crucial role in loosening regulations on campaign spending.
12.
Don McGahn brought five Jones Day lawyers with him to the White House, and six more were appointed to senior posts in the Trump Administration.
13.
On November 25,2016, Don McGahn was named White House Counsel for the President-elect's new administration.
14.
Since Jones Day has represented the Trump campaign in its dealings with Robert Mueller, Don McGahn secured an ethics waiver that allows him to talk to his old firm when its clients have business before the US government.
15.
Don McGahn personally recommended Trump nominate Neil Gorsuch to replace Antonin Scalia and Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court.
16.
Gorsuch's first official interview with Trump staff was on January 5,2017 when Don McGahn met with him in Trump Tower.
17.
Don McGahn called Gorsuch on January 27,2017 to tell him that he had been selected as the nominee.
18.
Don McGahn assembled a team of lawyers to oversee filling all judicial vacancies.
19.
Don McGahn was unaware that Sessions had already consulted with career attorneys at the Department of Justice.
20.
In January 2018 The New York Times reported that in June 2017, the president asked Don McGahn to instruct top Justice Department officials to dismiss special counsel Robert Mueller, and that Don McGahn refused, instead threatening to resign.
21.
Don McGahn told Trump that he had no authority to order a prosecution and that while he could request an investigation, that too could prompt accusations of abuse of power.
22.
Don McGahn had White House lawyers write a memo to Trump warning that if he asked law enforcement to investigate his rivals, he could face possible impeachment.
23.
Don McGahn returned to Jones Day in March 2019 as the head of the firm's Government Regulation Practice.
24.
On May 21,2019, Don McGahn defied a subpoena to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, at the direction of his former client.
25.
Don McGahn is married to Shannon Don McGahn, a lobbyist and former Counselor to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin.
26.
Don McGahn has played guitar for more than 20 years and studied at Berklee College of Music.
27.
Don McGahn plays lead guitar for an act called Scott's New Band.