Trump names Colin McDonald to lead new DOJ fraud enforcement division
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.”
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.”
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.
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
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.
