Nevada State Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald is resigning his post as a senior deputy treasurer in the state Treasurer's Office effective Friday, after less than three months on the job.
Treasurer Dan Schwartz, who had been criticized for making the hire while McDonald faces a lawsuit over a loan gone bad, attributed the move to restructuring related to the popular new Education Savings Account program.
Schwartz's chief of staff, Grant Hewitt, said the restructuring was the main driver for the resignation, but acknowledged other issues may have played a role.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that McDonald is being sued for his alleged role in arranging a $2.2 million loan from the children's charity Miracle Flights for Kids, where McDonald served on the board. The loan went to Med Lien Management, a medical bill collection business where McDonald was part-owner, and has since gone into default, according to the newspaper.