Paul Manafort, former chairman of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, is reportedly in discussions with the former president’s team about a potential role in the upcoming Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, according to three sources privy to the ongoing talks.
Manafort, who was instrumental in securing Trump’s Republican nomination in 2016, was pardoned by Trump after being convicted of multiple financial crimes in 2018. The Washington Post initially reported Manafort’s potential involvement in Trump’s 2024 election campaign.
One source hinted that Manafort’s role could involve fundraising for the July convention, although no final decisions have been made. Trump has expressed interest in bringing Manafort back into his circle, but the specifics of his potential role remain unclear.
Manafort served nearly two years of a 7.5-year prison sentence for bank and tax fraud, illegal foreign lobbying, and witness tampering conspiracies. He was released in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and spent the remainder of his sentence under home confinement before receiving his pardon.
Despite his resignation as Trump’s campaign chairman, Manafort continued to be involved with Trump’s transition to the White House, according to a previous report by CNN. His deep connections within the Republican establishment and relentless efforts to secure GOP delegates were key factors in Trump’s victory over his primary rivals in 2016.
However, Manafort was replaced months before the general election due to reports of his financial ties to pro-Russia Ukrainian politicians and other Trump loyalists.
Manafort’s financial fraud convictions were part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged collusion with the Russian government in 2016. Although Manafort’s crimes were not directly related to his role as Trump’s campaign chairman, he agreed to cooperate with Mueller’s team as part of his plea deal, but was later found to have lied during the interview sessions.
Report by: Evan Perez, Katelyn Polantz, and Dan Merica, CNN