Originally a registered Democrat, Meehan switched parties when he got a job as a volunteer for Tony Murray, a Republican state Senate candidate who would go on to lose.

Meehan graduated from Temple Law School in 1986, and found work as a corporate lawyer. He managed Ernie Preate's winning campaign for attorney general in 1988 and Ron Castille's successful bid for district attorney in 1989. Those victories caught the eye of Sen. Arlen Specter (then a Republican), who hired him to run his 1992 campaign; he stayed on as Specter's counsel. In 1994, he led Rick Santorum's upset election to the Senate. In 1995, Meehan himself ran for office himself, and was elected the district attorney for Delaware County.

Pennsylvania Prosecutor

During his time as district attorney, Meehan was thrust into the spotlight when he oversaw the successful prosecution of millionaire John DuPont for killing wrestler Dave Schultz.

In 2001, he was given more responsibility, when President George W. Bush appointed him as U.S. Attorney for Southeastern Pennsylvania. "None of this has been what a lot of people think: young man in a hurry, preordained design, with every step thought out," Meehan reflected at the time of his appointment. "The fact is that I've always been interested in politics and public service. I enjoy it and I think it's important and I believe in it. And I've been fortunate to be here when the opportunity has presented itself."

Taking office just after the Sept. 11 attacks, Meehan started an Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council.

During his time in office, he built a reputation for going after corrupt public officials. He found himself in the middle of a political firestorm in 2003 when he wiretapped the Philadelphia mayor's office as part of a probe, and was accused of doing so to affect the outcome of the mayoral election. In the end, the probe led to the convictions of several city officials, though the mayor was never charged with wrongdoing. He also spearheaded the indictment of state Sen. Vincent Fumo (D), who was convicted after Meehan left office of defrauding the state and other groups of $3.5 million. Meehan's high-profile convictions led him to be placed No. 9 on Philadelphia magazine's list of the city's most powerful people.

In 2008, he quit his job at the Justice Department and joined the Conrad O'Brien law firm. He also worked as a surrogate for Sen. John McCain in his unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid.

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