Paul Manafort has resigned from Donald Trump’s campaign shortly after a campaign shakeup and after questions were raised about his role in Ukraine.
The New York Times confirmed the resignation on Aug. 19:
CNN quoted Trump as saying: “This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign. 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. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success.”
CNN also quoted a source as saying that Manafort thought he was becoming a distraction to the campaign.
Manafort’s resignation comes after the campaign promoted Kellyanne Conway to be campaign manager and Breitbart’s Steve Bannon to be the campaign CEO. At that time, the campaign said Manafort would remain on board.
CNBC says Manafort was pushed aside.
Two days before the shakeup, Manafort was named “in an investigation by Ukrainian authorities looking at whether he and others received millions in illegal payments from Ukraine’s former pro-Russian ruling party,” CNN said.
CNN said the investigation is looking into the administration of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, “for whom Manafort worked as a political consultant” before Yanukovich was ousted.
A New York Times story alleged that investigators found Manafort’s name in a secret ledger outlining a $12.7 million payout to Manafort; Manafort fervently denies the allegations.
