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Trump names Colin McDonald to lead new DOJ fraud enforcement division

Donald Trump praised Colin McDonald as a highly respected America First federal prosecutor who delivered justice in major high-stakes cases

BY DIVYA KISHORE

PUBLISHED JAN 29, 2026

Donald Trump nominated Colin McDonald as Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement, elevating the associate deputy attorney general under Todd Blanche (Getty Images and LinkedIn)

WASHINGTON, DC: Donald Trump has nominated Colin McDonald for a new Assistant Attorney General for Fraud position in a newly created division at the Department of Justice.

McDonald is currently serving as associate deputy attorney general under Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

Taking to his Truth Social page, the president wrote, “I am pleased to nominate Colin McDonald to serve as the first ever Assistant Attorney General for National FRAUD Enforcement, a new Division at the Department of Justice, which I created to catch and stop FRAUDSTERS that have been STEALING from the American People.”

(Truth Social/ @realDonaldTrump) — Donald Trump said he nominated Colin McDonald as the first Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement (Truth Social/@realDonaldTrump)

Trump praises Colin McDonald as DOJ fraud enforcement pick

Trump also called McDonald “a very Smart, Tough, and Highly Respected AMERICA FIRST Federal Prosecutor,” while praising him for having “successfully deliver[ed] Justice in some of the most difficult and high stakes cases our Country has ever seen.”

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the Treasury Department's Trump Accounts Summit at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on January 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. — President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the Treasury Department's Trump Accounts Summit at Andrew W Mellon Auditorium on January 28, 2026 in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

He then went on to accuse states such as Minnesota and California of engaging in “fraud schemes.”

“Together, we will END THE FRAUD, and RESTORE INTEGRITY to our Federal Programs. Congratulations Colin, STOP THE SCAMS!” Trump added.

President Donald Trump takes the stage to speak during a rally at the Horizon Events Center on January 27, 2026 in Clive, Iowa. President Trump returns to Iowa for a second time in his second term ahead of the mid-term elections. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) — President Donald Trump takes the stage to speak during a rally at the Horizon Events Center on January 27, 2026 in Clive, Iowa. President Trump returns to Iowa for a second time in his second term ahead of the mid-term elections (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

One of the notable cases handled by McDonald included helping secure the conviction of former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his city-prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha, and two police officers over their involvement in a complex scandal.

The Kealohas falsely arrested their own uncle to discredit him and conceal their theft of $148,000. They, along with the two law enforcement officers, received prison sentences of 42 and 156 months.

JD Vance, Pam Bondi praise Colin McDonald DOJ nomination

Donald Trump’s announcement came days after Vice President JD Vance first spoke about it during a White House press briefing.

“Colin McDonald is widely regarded as a thorough and highly competent attorney. He has an exceptional prosecutorial track record, which we look forward to seeing him put to use in his new role as Assistant Attorney General,” he said

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 22: U.S. Vice President JD Vance gives remarks following a roundtable discussion with local leaders and community members amid a surge of federal immigration authorities in the area, at Royalston Square on January 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000-plus federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region. (Photo by Jim Watson - Pool/Getty Images) — Vice President JD Vance gives remarks following a roundtable discussion with local leaders and community members amid a surge of federal immigration authorities in the area, at Royalston Square on January 22, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Trump administration has sent a reported 3,000-plus federal agents into the area, with more on the way, as they make a push to arrest undocumented immigrants in the region (Jim Watson - Pool/Getty Images)

Attorney General Pam Bondi has also reportedly lauded McDonald.

She stated that he “is doing outstanding work at the Department of Justice and will continue to be an invaluable asset on our team,” adding that his experience “makes him perfectly suited to help lead the charge on dismantling criminal fraud networks and halting the theft of taxpayer dollars.”

Former attorney praises Colin McDonald’s integrity

Colin McDonald previously worked under former Southern California Attorney Robert Brewer, who called him “a career public servant as well as a fearless, strong and ethical prosecutor.”

“I assigned him to a very difficult public corruption case in Hawaii that seriously needed his organizational and legal skills. As expected, he was invaluable in resolving the case in a most favorable way. Mr McDonald is exceedingly bright, dedicated, and is a great leader. The American people can trust his judgment, his ethics, and will be proud of his work,” Brewer added.