Following today’s announcement that convicted fraudster Paul Manafort had been involved in GOP convention efforts and would now “support President Trump every other way [he] can,” DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement: 

“Paul Manafort isn’t the first convicted felon to have a prominent role in Donald Trump’s orbit – and he certainly won’t be the last. Today’s announcement only underscores just how many convicts, cranks, and conspiracy theorists have been given top-billing within Trump’s disaster of a campaign. From delusional conspiracy theorists and convicted felons like Roger Stone to creeps with battery and assault charges like Corey Lewandowski, it’s clear that Trump’s campaign and the RNC are the place to be for unemployable lowlifes.”

Paul Manafort confirmed he was “offering my advice and suggestions to the Trump campaign on the upcoming convention” – before stepping back to “support President Trump every other way I can” after fresh reporting on his work lobbying for foreign corporations with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

New York Times: “Paul Manafort, the longtime Republican strategist and chairman of Donald J. Trump’s 2016 campaign, who had assumed an unpaid role advising party officials on the nominating convention, stepped aside on Saturday after questions arose about his involvement in the convention’s planning process.

“Mr. Manafort’s move came after The New York Times reported that he had been on the ground in Milwaukee last week for planning meetings for the convention, as well as a Washington Post story that said he was involved in work connected to foreign officials and businesses.”

[…]

“Mr. Manafort, who helped stave off efforts to thwart Mr. Trump’s nomination at the 2016 convention, was sentenced to more than seven years in prison for various financial crimes, including tax evasion, bank fraud, and money laundering — unrelated to the 2016 campaign — before being pardoned by Mr. Trump before he left office.”

Washington Post: “With his freedom, Manafort hardly retired to a quiet home life. Instead, the longtime power broker — briefly brought low by the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election — reengaged in international consulting, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post and people familiar with his activities who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter’s sensitivity.

“Manafort has been assisting an effort to launch a Netflix-like mobile streaming and entertainment platform in China that, according to corporate documents, has the endorsement of the Chinese government.”

Trump can’t stop surrounding himself with election deniers, conspiracy theorists, and convicted felons. 

Axios: “Trump eyes convicts and conspiracists for 2024 reunion”

“Sidelined characters from former President Trump’s past campaigns — ‘crazies,’ some of his top advisers call them — are reattaching themselves to his inner circle now that he’s locked up the Republican nomination. … ex-advisers, conspiracy theorists and convicted felons are now knocking on the campaign’s door — and some are getting in.”

The Guardian: “Headache for campaign team as Trump gets the band back together”

New York Times: “Former President Donald J. Trump recently told aides to hire Laura Loomer, a far-right and anti-Muslim activist with a history of expressing bigoted views, for a campaign role, according to four people familiar with the plans. Mr. Trump met with Ms. Loomer recently and directed advisers to give her a role in support of his candidacy.”

Rolling Stone: “They Helped Trump Plan a Coup. He Wants Them Back for a Second Term”

The Hill: “Trump says he’ll bring back Michael Flynn if he wins in 2024: ‘He’s some man’” 

CNN: “Trump hosted Holocaust denier at Mar-a-Lago estate during visit with Kanye West, a week after announcing 2024 run”

Corey Lewandowski is not only helping out Trump’s campaign, he’s on the shortlist to help run the Republican National Convention — despite facing battery charges and allegations of physically assaulting a journalist.

New York Times: “Aides to former President Donald J. Trump are discussing getting Corey Lewandowski, Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager who was shoved out of a pro-Trump super PAC in 2021, involved in the Republican National Convention, according to two people briefed on the discussions.”

InDepthNH: “The Republican frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, filed as a candidate for the Republican Presidential Primary in New Hampshire Monday saying if elected he would bring down utility prices for Granite Staters by building a pipeline. … Accompanying him at the desk for the signing of paperwork was Corey Lewandowski, who was 2016 campaign director for Trump and continues to be a political operative.”

Politico: “Lewandowski was also charged with battery in 2016 after yanking the arm of a reporter, Michelle Fields, at a Trump campaign event. The charges were later dropped, but Lewandowski, who at the time was serving as Trump’s campaign manager, claimed the incident never happened before video emerged confirming that it did.”

Roger Stone is fully back helping Trump’s campaign – he joined campaign staff on stage during Trump’s Super Tuesday speech.

HuffPost: “Presumptive GOP nominee Trump is reportedly in talks with … longtime adviser Roger Stone to boost his 2024 campaign.”

CNN: “Stone remains an outspoken supporter of [Trump], trafficking in unsavory rumors about Trump’s political opponents on social media and hosting a radio show on a conservative New York station that debuted with a Trump appearance. He is also a regular at Mar-a-Lago and walked out with Trump’s campaign staff on Super Tuesday for the former president’s victory speech.”

Axios: “Longtime political operative and Trump confidant Roger Stone — who was convicted of obstructing a congressional probe into Trump’s 2016 campaign and sentenced to 40 months in prison before Trump commuted the sentence — has been a frequent presence at Mar-a-Lago lately. Stone was at Trump’s victory party there on Super Tuesday. He also has publicly weighed in on how Trump should pick his V.P nominee.”