Will Scharf
Will Scharf | |
|---|---|
| White House Staff Secretary | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump (elect) |
| Succeeding | Stefanie Feldman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Owen Scharf 1986 or 1987 (age 37–38) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Harvard University (JD) |
William Owen Scharf (born 1986 or 1987) is an American attorney and political advisor. He is the designated White House staff secretary, set to assume office in January 2025 as part of the second Donald Trump administration. He previously was a candidate in the 2024 Missouri attorney general election.
Early life
[edit]Scharf was born in 1986 or 1987.[1] He lives in St. Louis County, Missouri.[2] Scharf attended Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, then Princeton University where he received a bachelor's degree in 2008.[2][3] He later attended Harvard Law School, where he was the president of the Harvard Federalist Society and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 2011.[2][3]
Career
[edit]Scharf initially worked as an attorney in private practice.[2] In 2016, he joined the office of Catherine Hanaway's campaign for Missouri governor.[3] After Hanaway lost to Eric Greitens in the primaries, Scharf later joined his team.[3] Upon Greitens winning and becoming governor of Missouri, Scharf was named his policy director.[3] Greitens resigned in 2018 and Scharf subsequently worked in New York and Washington.[4] In 2020, he became an assistant United States attorney, working in the violent crimes division for the city of St. Louis.[4]
Scharf worked for the confirmations of Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett for the United States Supreme Court.[5] He worked for the firm CRC Advisors, which helped choose court nominees for President Donald Trump.[5]
In 2023, Scharf announced his candidacy for the 2024 Missouri attorney general election, challenging Andrew Bailey for the Republican nomination.[4] In October 2023, he joined former President Trump's legal team, working on several of Trump's cases, including for the appeal of his gag orders, the appeal of Trump's civil fraud trial and his presidential immunity case.[6][7][8] He made frequent television appearances defending Trump and was reported as playing a "major role" in the presidential immunity case, which resulted in the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the former president and giving absolute immunity for acts committed as president.[5][9]
Scharf was co-endorsed by Trump in his attorney general race.[10] He ended up being defeated in the primary by Bailey.[11] After Trump won the 2024 presidential election, he appointed Scharf to his office as assistant to the president and White House staff secretary.[12] A statement released by Trump said that "Will is a highly skilled attorney who will be a crucial part of my White House team."[12]
References
[edit]- ^ Kassal, Matthew (February 1, 2023). "Will Scharf steps up to run for Missouri AG". The Jewish Insider.
- ^ a b c d "Scharf". Politico. August 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e Krull, Ryan (February 1, 2023). "Now Running for Missouri AG: Will Scharf, an Outsider from Harvard Law". Riverfront Times.
- ^ a b c Holleman, Joe (February 1, 2023). "Will Scharf announces GOP bid for Missouri attorney general". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- ^ a b c Samuels, Brett (November 16, 2024). "Trump names attorney Will Scharf to key White House job". The Hill.
- ^ Palermo, Greg (December 12, 2023). "Missouri AG candidate Scharf's role grows on Trump legal team". Spectrum News.
- ^ Bayless, Kacen; Shorman, Jonathan (May 24, 2024). "Trump hangs over the GOP race for Missouri attorney general. Will he endorse his lawyer?". The Kansas City Star.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Nazarro, Miranda (May 30, 2024). "Trump attorney Will Scharf says he's 'considering all options' to appeal conviction". The Hill.
- ^ Deroschers, Daniel; Bayless, Kacen; Shorman, Jonathan (July 1, 2024). "Missouri AG candidate played key role in winning Trump's immunity case at Supreme Court". The Kansas City Star.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Trump endorses Bailey, Scharf in Missouri attorney general race". KMOV. July 30, 2024. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
- ^ Mueller, Julia (August 6, 2024). "Missouri attorney general beats back primary challenge from Trump lawyer". The Hill.
- ^ a b Collins, Michael (November 16, 2024). "Trump taps personal defense attorney Will Scharf to serve in key White House position". USA Today.
