Trump Splits With Political Director Rick Wiley
Departure of top aide is latest shake-up in campaign

Donald Trump continues to shake up his campaign staff as he heads into the general election, with a surprise announcement Wednesday that he is parting with his national political director Rick Wiley.
The announcement, in a late-night press release, stood in contrast to the fanfare that accompanied Wiley’s hiring just six weeks ago, when the former lobbyist was touted as a seasoned political expert who would bring depth and experience to Trump’s staff.
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Team Trump Adds Another Ex-Lobbyist
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The statement thanked Wiley and said that he was brought on as a consultant on a “short-term basis until the campaign was running full steam.”
Several media reports have noted that this was the first time the campaign had referred to him as a temporary staff member.
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Rick Wiley Named RNC Political Director
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Wiley joined the campaign in April amid a series of high-level transitions in the campaign staff. Paul Manafort, another longtime operative who was recently named campaign chairman and chief strategist, was brought on in late March. National field director Stuart Jolly resigned shortly afterward, and Manafort and Wiley reportedly had contentious relationships with longtime campaign manager Corey Lewandowski .
Contact Akin at stephanieakin@rollcall.com and follow her on Twitter at @stephanieakin
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