Either way, Manafort’s resignation comes just two days after the Associated Press reported that the Republican lobbyist “helped a pro-Russian governing party in Ukraine secretly route at least $2.2 million in payments to two prominent Washington lobbying firms in 2012, and did so in a way that effectively obscured the foreign political party’s efforts to influence us policy”.
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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.
In a statement on Friday, Trump said he had accepted Manafort’s resignation.
Donald Trump is praising Paul Manafort as a “true professional”.
MP Serhiy Leshchenko said money was allocated for Trump aide Paul Manafort to finance services such as carrying out exit polls at elections, buying computers and conducting research.
In the preview, Eric Trump went on to praise the “amazing” Manafort for helping the campaign “get to the convention”.
Trump’s surprise apology in a campaign appearance on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C. about some of his controversial remarks in the past might reflect the immediate influence of Conway.
US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump addresses supporters during a campaign rally in Kissimmee, Florida, on August 11, 2016.
Trump’s family members – considered his closest advisors – were also troubled by reports that Manafort had received millions in cash payments from Russian Federation, as well as other stories about his dealings with the country, Politico reported. The departure of the smooth-talking seasoned strategist, who has advised Republican presidential candidates going back to Gerald Ford, follows weeks of Trump missteps that have flung his White House campaign into crisis. Trump hired him in March to help the campaign compete with the well-oiled political machine of Sen.
Manafort had come under increasing pressure for his ties to a pro-Russia party in Ukraine and his work as a lobbyist.
It seems that Mr. Manafort’s resignation will eventually lead to more of Trump’s staff leaving, as Bannon and Conway are already considering hiring additional people.
“Sometimes, in the heat of debate and speaking on a multitude of issues, you don’t choose the right words or you say the wrong thing”, he said. Manafort has vehemently denied the allegations.
“I’ve known him since we were in college, he’s a first-class person, he’s an wonderful individual and he has been the lead architect in trying to seamlessly put together the institutional side of this campaign”, Barrack said.
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“Believe it or not, I regret it”.
