Top Lawyer from VP JD Vance’s Office Joins Private Sector

Sean Cooksey, the top attorney in Vice President JD Vance’s office, is transitioning to the private sector after playing a major role in significant White House initiatives over the past year, including efforts to secure TikTok’s presence in the United States. According to a source familiar with his departure, Cooksey is set to join BGR Group, a firm specializing in lobbying and public affairs, as reported by NBC News.

Cooksey, a lawyer with a long history in the GOP and a former chair of the Federal Election Commission, was one of Vance’s initial hires. He had intended to serve in his role for around a year. Previously, Cooksey has filled senior positions with Senators Ted Cruz from Texas and Josh Hawley from Missouri.

Sean Cooksey has been a force to be reckoned with in our office, and I’m grateful for the tireless work ethic he brought to the job every day, Vance stated. We put a number of seriously challenging problems on Sean’s desk, but he was undaunted by anything we asked him to do. We wish him nothing but the best.

In his behind-the-scenes role, Cooksey was vital in Vance’s efforts, especially following President Donald Trump’s directive to Vance to negotiate an agreement to keep TikTok operational in the U.S. Cooksey’s efforts culminated in a deal placing TikTok under the management of a joint venture supported by American investors. This move sought to alleviate the ongoing concerns regarding the platform’s Chinese ownership.

Michael Kratsios, assistant to the president and director of the Office of Science and Technology, remarked, Sean Cooksey stood at the forefront of advancing American innovation under President Trump. As Counsel to Vice President JD Vance, he proved indispensable during landmark efforts including the successful TikTok negotiations. I deeply value his partnership in driving American leadership in technology.

Cooksey’s recent tasks included contributing to the formation of the Justice Department’s Division for National Fraud Enforcement. This development comes after Vance’s announcement last month about establishing an assistant attorney general position to combat fraud investigations, following alleged welfare fund misuses in Minnesota. President Trump also nominated federal prosecutor Colin McDonald for this position last week.

Cooksey played a role in negotiating with the United Kingdom over its demands for access to Apple’s encrypted user data. The U.K. eventually withdrew its demands after pressure from U.S. officials.

It has been an honor to serve in the greatest presidential administration of my lifetime, Cooksey stated on Thursday. President Trump and Vice President Vance are delivering every day on their massive electoral mandate to bring prosperity, security, and strength to America, and I look forward to supporting those efforts from this new role.

Henry J. Gomez is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.