It’s been a dramatic week for the Trump administration. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s abrupt dismissal wasn’t the only high-profile scandal. John McEntee, one of President Trump’s senior aides, was quietly escorted out of the White House Monday.
McEntee has been around since the beginning. He hounded Trump’s team with emails until he was allowed to work as a volunteer. Eventually, he became the trip director for Trump’s campaign before morphing into his personal assistant.
He was booted out of the administration because he’s currently being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security for financial crimes. Details are vague. The Wall Street Journal reports that McEntee’s problems revolve around online gambling and mistakes with his taxes.
Unlike most of the people who have been fired or have resigned from positions in the Trump administration, McEntee still plans to work for the president. After his dismissal, he was immediately hired as a senior advisor for Trump’s re-election campaign. Trump still has faith in him.
“As we build out our operations for the 2018 midterm elections and the 2020 re-election campaign, we are pleased to welcome back two outstanding members of our 2016 team,” Trump’s re-election campaign manager said on Tuesday.
“We need the help of proven leaders such as… John to promote the President’s growing portfolio of achievements across the country.”
McEntee’s departure from the White House is a result of Chief of Staff John Kelly’s security crackdown. Kelly’s competency was called into question last month after it was revealed that senior Trump aide Rob Porter had a history of abusing women.
McEntee didn’t have a permanent security clearance, and with the Homeland Security investigation hanging over his head, it’s unlikely that he ever would have gotten one. Kelly’s committed to being on tough on security clearances after last month’s debacle with Porter.
(Source: Daily Mail)