Sheriff David A. Clarke just lost out on yet another Trump administration job—and he has the president’s chief of staff to thank.
Officials in the West Wing tell The Daily Beast that Clarke had been in consideration for a White House post over the past seven weeks. But on Tuesday, the controversial former Milwaukee County lawman signed on with an outside group instead. He will serve as a spokesman and “senior adviser” for the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action.
Four sources working in and close to the Trump White House said his failure to land a gig in the West Wing or at the Department of Homeland Security, where Clarke unsuccessfully sought a job earlier this year, was in large part the result of opposition from White House chief of staff John Kelly. Kelly led DHS until late July.
Though Clarke had been discussed for a possible White House communications or outreach role, Kelly’s position as chief of staff made the arrangement a “non-starter,” as one senior White House official put it. Earlier this year, while serving as DHS Secretary, Kelly had informed Clarke that an appointment to that department would not happen in part due to scandal surrounding the treatment of inmates in Clarke’s jail, and the ensuing negative media attention. According to two sources familiar with the discussions, this led to Clarke formally “rescinding” his intention to join the Trump administration in mid-June.
Damn, Kelly is keeping a tight lid on the White House to keep the cockroaches out.
Clarke is essentially Joe Apraio in blackface, and he would have brought all kinds of unwanted baggage into the White House with him.
Clarke is from the Steve Bannon/Michael Flynn school of outrageous conspiracy theories and has some real doozies of his own that are part of the permanent record.
But don't worry about ole Sheriff Clarke, he found a soft place to land.
Not quite as prestigious as a White House post, but at least he still gets to kiss Trump's ass.Sheriff Clarke, shut out by Kelly, going to Trump PAC, via sources.— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) September 5, 2017
Source http://ift.tt/2gLtLa2
