Paul Manafort, the embattled chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign who has been under fire in connection with a Ukrainian corruption investigation, tendered his resignation on August 19, 2016.
/ AFP PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / CHIP SOMODEVILLA
By Sarah Nacman
Eagle News Service Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON DC, USA (Eagle News) — Donald Trump’s campaign chair, Paul Manafort, resigned Friday, adding to a list of recent changes made in key positions of the Republican Presidential Candidate’s campaign.
Kellyanne Conway was promoted to campaign manager and Stephen K. Bannon, Breirbart News executive, was placed as the campaign’s CEO.
In an interview with WABC’s Rita Cosby, Conway said Manafort’s exit was a mutual decision.
“He was asked and he indeed tendered his resignation today and Mr. Trump accepted his resignation and wished him well and thanked him for his service,” Conway said.
Erik Trump hinted at a possible reason for Manafort’s departure during an interview on Fox’s Sunday Morning Futures.
“My father didn’t want to be, you know, distracted by whatever things Paul was dealing with,” Erik Trump said.
Trump had recruited Manafort, who formerly advised the pro-Kremlin former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, earlier this year to head off what was then a potentially contested Republican convention.
“I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process,” Trump said.
“Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success.” (with a report from Agence France Presse)
