PAUL MANAFORT, THE combative, experienced operator at the head of the Donald Trump campaign, has resigned.
A statement from the Trump campaign confirmed that he had resigned as campaign chairman today.
Manafort had been named in a corruption investigation in Ukraine after police said an illegal, off-the-books payment network earmarked $12.7 million (about €11.3 million) in cash payments for him, the New York Times reported.
Trump said in a statement:
“This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign.
I am very appreciative of his great work in helping us to get 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.”
His resignation comes as Trump announces a shake up of his campaign, appointing a conservative website executive and a pollster to head his team amid sinking poll numbers.
Stephen Bannon, executive chairman of the right-wing Breitbart News site, will serve as the campaign’s chief executive.
Reports in recent days have suggested Trump is also being advised by Roger Ailes, the former head of Fox News who was forced to resign amid sexual harassment allegations.
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