Drew Wrigley

Drew Wrigley
United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota
In office April 17, 2019 – February 28, 2021
President	Donald Trump Joe Biden
Preceded by	Tim Purdon
Succeeded by	Nick Chase (acting)
In office 2001–2009
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	John Schneider
Succeeded by	Tim Purdon
37th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota
In office December 7, 2010 – December 15, 2016
Governor	Jack Dalrymple
Preceded by	Jack Dalrymple
Succeeded by	Brent Sanford
Personal details
Born	Drew Howard Wrigley (1965-10-10) October 10, 1965 (age 56) Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Kathleen
Education	University of North Dakota (BA) American University (JD)

Drew Howard Wrigley (born October 10, 1965) is an American attorney and political leader who served as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota both from 2001 to 2009, and 2019 to 2021, appointed by President George W. Bush, and Donald J. Trump, respectively.^[1] Between his terms as United States Attorney, Wrigley served as the 37th Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota from 2010 to 2016. Prior to those positions, Wrigley served as Deputy Chief of Staff to then-Governor John Hoeven and as executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party.^[2] Before that, Wrigley served five years as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia. Wrigley's service included assignments to the Sexual Assault, and Major Trials units.

Education and early career[]

A native of Bismarck, North Dakota, Wrigley grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, where he graduated from Fargo South High School. He is a fourth-generation North Dakotan, with roots in Burke County and Walsh County.^[3] Wrigley is an honors graduate of the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in economics and a minor in philosophy. Wrigley was an active member of Phi Delta Theta during college. He completed his Juris Doctor at American University in Washington, D.C., where he was active in student government, mentoring programs, and he interned for U.S. Senator Bob Dole. After law school, Wrigley served as a judicial law clerk in Delaware, after which he became an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia, serving in that capacity for five years before returning to North Dakota.^[2]

U.S. Attorney[]

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Wrigley to be the United States District Attorney for North Dakota. In this capacity, he was responsible for prosecuting all federal crimes committed in the state. His most famous case was the Dru Sjodin kidnapping and murder. Capital punishment was abolished in the state of North Dakota in 1973, but because the crime involved crossing state lines, the trial fell under jurisdiction of the federal government, leaving the decision about whether or not to seek the death penalty solely on shoulders of Drew Wrigley, who chose to request death penalty. He successfully prosecuted Alfonso Rodriguez, a repeat sex offender from Crookston, Minnesota, for the kidnap, rape, and murder of Sjodin (he was sentenced to death on September 22, 2006). A February 9, 2007 article in the New York Times stated that according to a transcript of the court proceedings, Judge Ralph R. Erickson, who imposed the sentence, said “This is the first time since 1914 that any judge has been confronted with a death penalty sentence in North Dakota or Minnesota, ...Mr. Rodriguez’s senseless and horrendous” act forced an uncomfortable discussion of capital punishment to the forefront. In addition to personally leading the trial team in the trial that lead to Rodriguez's death sentence, Wrigley successfully argued the case before the Eighth Circuit Court Of Appeals, which upheld, 2 to 1, Rodriguez's conviction and death sentence. On August 16, 2018, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Wrigley to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota.^[4] On August 27, 2018, his nomination was sent to the United States Senate.^[5] His nomination was not acted upon during the 115th United States Congress. He was renominated in February 2019.^[6] On February 28, 2019, his nomination was reported out of committee by voice vote.^[7] On April 11, 2019, his nomination was confirmed by voice vote by the full Senate.^[8] On April 17, 2019, he was sworn into office as the United States Attorney for a second time.^[9]

On February 8, 2021, he was asked to resign to reopen the position for nomination, as is routine during a presidential transition.^[10][11] On February 23, 2021, Wrigley announced his resignation, effective February 28, 2021.^[12]

On December 30, 2021, it was announced a bid to run for the North Dakota Attorney General office. The election takes place in 2022 to fill the vacant spot of retiring Wayne Stenehjem.^[13][14]

Lieutenant Governor[]

On November 4, 2010, then-Lt. Governor Jack Dalrymple designated Wrigley as his successor once his transition of the governor's office was completed (then-Governor John Hoeven had just been elected to the U.S. Senate).^[2] Wrigley was sworn into office on December 7, 2010, following the swearing in of Governor Dalrymple.

Dalrymple and Wrigley were elected to full terms in November 2012.

Wrigley's responsibilities as lieutenant governor include presiding over the state senate, overseeing legislative relations, formulating the state budget, and agri-business development.

Wrigley considered running in North Dakota's 2016 gubernatorial election, but ultimately decided not to run.

Personal life[]

Wrigley lives in Bismarck with his wife, Kathleen, and their three children.^[15] In 2015, Wrigley disclosed he had an extramarital affair earlier that year.^[16]

References[]

External links[]

• Official DOJ profile