U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced on Mar. 23 that the Senate will move forward with confirming Colin McDonald to lead the new national fraud enforcement division at the Department of Justice.
The confirmation is considered important due to ongoing concerns about large-scale fraud affecting federal programs. Thune said, “Fraud is a serious issue.” He pointed out that last year, widespread fraud was uncovered in Minnesota, where prosecutors are handling cases involving at least $9 billion in fraudulent activity across 14 federally funded programs. Thune also noted, “Minnesota is just the tip of the iceberg,” referencing an estimate from the Government Accountability Office that up to $500 billion in federal funds may be lost each year due to fraud.
Thune described McDonald as well-prepared for this challenge because of his experience as a career federal prosecutor. Before joining the Department of Justice last year, McDonald spent ten years as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of California, focusing on cases related to fraud, money laundering, and public corruption. Thune said that during one case in the Ninth Circuit Court, Judge Harry Pregerson interrupted proceedings to praise McDonald’s honesty and candor with the court.
Thune has served on several Senate committees including Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Finance according to his official website. He has also held leadership roles such as Senate majority leader and previously Republican whip and conference chairman according to his official website. Thune grew up in Murdo, South Dakota where an encounter with a congressman sparked his interest in public service according to his official website.
Thune earned a bachelor’s degree from Biola University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Dakota according to his official website. He won historic elections including one against a sitting party leader and another without opposition according to his official website. Together with his wife Kimberley they raised two daughters and have six grandchildren while maintaining their home in Sioux Falls according to his official website.
“Colin McDonald is well-suited to provide justice for American taxpayers in this role,” Thune said. “And I look forward to confirming him swiftly so he can get to work.”
