Peter M. McCoy Jr.


Peter M. McCoy Jr. is an American attorney and politician who served as the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina from 2020 to 2021. He was a member of the South Carolina [House of Representatives] from 2011 to 2020.

Education

McCoy earned his Bachelor of Arts from Hampden–Sydney College and his Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law.

Legal career

McCoy was an Assistant Solicitor in the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office in Charleston. Until his appointment as United States Attorney, he was a partner at McCoy & Stokes in Charleston, South Carolina, where his practice focused on criminal defense in both state and federal courts, as well as family, personal injury, and probate law.

Political career

South Carolina House of Representatives

From 2011 to 2020, McCoy served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. He chaired the SC House Utility Ratepayer Protection Committee which reviewed the V.C. Summer project.

U.S. Attorney

On February 26, 2020, President Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate McCoy to be the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina. His nomination was officially sent to the United States Senate on March 2.
On March 30, 2020, U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr appointed McCoy as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. He was confirmed by a voice vote of the Senate on June 18, 2020. McCoy oversaw prosecutions in the VC Summer case.
On February 8, 2021, he along with 55 other Trump-era attorneys were asked to resign. He announced his resignation on February 23, effective February 28.

Post federal government work

In April 2021, months after vacating his office as US attorney, Governor Henry McMaster nominated McCoy to become chair of Santee Cooper board of directors. McCoy was unanimously confirmed by the South Carolina Senate in June 2021.

Personal life

McCoy lives with his wife and their three children on James Island. He is a member of Grace Episcopal Church where he teaches Sunday School for kindergartners.