A Bloomberg report out of Washington, D.C. indicates an Iowan who’s run unsuccessfully for statewide office twice will be the new chief of staff for the U.S. Attorney General. Matthew Whitaker of Clive was the G-O-P nominee for state treasurer in 2002. President Bush named Whitaker the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa in 2004 and Whitaker held that post for five and a half years.

In 2014, Whitaker was one of five Republicans who ran for the U.S. Senate, the year Joni Ernst won the G-O-P primary and the general election. Whitaker, who is 47 years old, played football at the University of Iowa and earned an MBA and a law degree from the school as well.

Two other high-ranking Republican politicians are partners in Whitaker’s Des Moines law firm. Attorney Jack Whitver is the president of the Iowa Senate and attorney Chris Hagenow is the majority leader in the Iowa House.

(Radio Iowa)