Paul Manafort, former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign chairman who was later pardoned by Trump, has decided to step back from a role with the Republican National Convention due to media scrutiny and questions surrounding his involvement in the planning process. Manafort had been in discussions with Trump’s team to assist with the convention in Milwaukee, according to CNN. In a statement provided to the New York Times, Manafort stated that he was offering “advice and suggestions” to the Trump campaign regarding the convention, citing his extensive experience managing presidential conventions over nearly 50 years in a volunteer capacity.
Manafort expressed his continued support for President Trump but noted that the media was attempting to use him as a distraction to harm Trump’s campaign by recycling old news. He made the decision to step back and support Trump in other ways, stating that he would not allow the media to negatively impact the campaign. A Trump campaign official confirmed Manafort’s departure from the support position, revealing that he would no longer be involved in the planning process for the Republican National Convention.
The decision for Manafort to step back from the Republican National Convention role came following reports by The Washington Post that he was assisting in launching a Chinese streaming platform. Manafort had previously served close to two years of a 7.5-year sentence in prison for bank and tax fraud, illegal foreign lobbying, and witness tampering before being released in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He spent the remainder of his sentence under home confinement before receiving a pardon from Trump.
Despite stepping back from the convention role, Manafort remains a staunch supporter of President Trump and continues to assist the campaign in other ways. He has chosen to stay on the sidelines in response to the media scrutiny and focus on supporting Trump in ways that do not create distractions or negative attention for the campaign. While Manafort was initially in discussions to help with the convention, he ultimately decided to distance himself from the planning process to avoid being used as a tool to harm Trump and his re-election efforts.
The departure of Manafort from the Republican National Convention support position highlights the challenges and controversies surrounding his involvement in political roles following his criminal convictions. Manafort’s decision to step back reflects a desire to support Trump without becoming a liability for the campaign due to media attention and negative scrutiny. Despite his past legal troubles, Manafort remains committed to supporting Trump and his re-election efforts through other means, emphasizing his dedication to the President and the Republican Party. The ongoing saga involving Manafort and his role in political events underscores the complexities of relationships within the Trump campaign and the broader political landscape.
