Trump Endorses Higgins While Giuliani Campaigns for Challenger
Giuliani’s girlfriend works for Louisiana Republican’s primary opponent
President Donald Trump and his lawyer are split on the Republican primary for Louisiana’s 3rd District.
The president’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who serves as a senior adviser to his campaign, announced Trump’s endorsement of incumbent Rep. Clay Higgins in a statement on Thursday.
“Clay Higgins is a law and order Congressman who has been a great supporter of President Trump, especially the President’s historic tax cuts that have created new jobs and growth for the people of the 3rd District of Louisiana,” Lara Trump’s statement read, according to The Advocate.
Higgins for his part said he was “honored” to have the support of the president.
“The President has taken historic action to revitalize our nation’s economy and restore America’s standing in the world. I look forward to working with President Trump to keep America great,” he said.
But Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who is now working as Trump’s lawyer, is supporting Higgins’ opponent Josh Guillory.
Giuliani also has a personal stake in Guillory’s campaign as his new girlfriend, Jennifer LeBlanc, is the challenger’s finance director.
LeBlanc worked for Higgins until late 2017 before leaving in what Higgins’ chief of staff told Politico was a “very amicable” split.
But Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry described it as a “a National Enquirer-type situation going on down in Louisiana’s 3rd Congressional District.”
Giuliani will host a fundraiser on Monday for Guillory and some worry Giuliani’s backing might be equated with a Trump endorsement even though Trump supports the incumbent.
Higgins brushed off any concerns in a statement.
“My focus is on serving and continuing to deliver wins for Louisiana and America. I stand with President Trump and will continue to help him advance the conservative agenda in Congress,” he said.