Paul Manafort Steps Down from Republican Convention Role Amid Criticism

Paul Manafort, the former Republican strategist and chairman of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 campaign, has stepped aside from his advisory role in the planning of the upcoming nominating convention after questions arose about his involvement. Manafort, who had been offering his advice and suggestions to the Trump campaign in a volunteer capacity, decided to take a backseat amidst media scrutiny.

The New York Times reported that Manafort had been on the ground in Milwaukee for planning meetings for the convention, raising concerns about his ties to foreign officials and businesses. Despite his assertion that the media was trying to use him as a distraction to harm President Trump and his campaign, Manafort chose to withdraw from his role to support Trump in other ways.

Manafort, who was sentenced to over seven years in prison for financial crimes unrelated to the 2016 campaign before being pardoned by Trump, has a long history of involvement in presidential conventions. His experience with conventions made him a valuable asset to the Trump team, but his past controversies led to his ousting from the 2016 campaign.

Although Manafort was not expected to have a management role in the convention this time, he was set to advise on the staffing structure of the platform committee. The platform debate is crucial for the party this year, especially after the Republican Party did not adopt a new platform in 2020 due to the pandemic. Manafort’s involvement in the convention planning process has sparked renewed interest in his past actions and their potential impact on the upcoming event.