John McKay (attorney)

John McKay is an American attorney and former United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington.

McKay served as the U.S. Attorney from 2001 to 2006, appointed by President George W. Bush. During his tenure, he focused on combating terrorism, drug trafficking, and white-collar crime.

Prior to becoming U.S. Attorney, McKay practiced law in Seattle, Washington. Following his dismissal as U.S. Attorney in 2006, McKay joined the faculty at Seattle University School of Law, where he teaches and researches legal and public policy issues.

McKay's dismissal from his position as U.S. Attorney was controversial and became part of a larger investigation into the firing of several U.S. Attorneys by the Bush administration. The controversy centered on allegations that the dismissals were politically motivated. McKay maintained that he was fired for not pursuing voter fraud investigations aggressively enough. The Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General and Office of Professional Responsibility subsequently issued a report finding that political considerations played a role in the dismissals, but did not find evidence of criminal wrongdoing.