Trump Campaign Exec Paul Manafort Resigns

More turmoil at the top in the Trump camp: Campaign chairman Paul Manafort has resigned. The move comes after Donald Trump essentially demoted Manafort earlier in the week by creating a new position of campaign CEO for Stephen Bannon and promoting adviser Kellyanne Conway to the post of campaign manager. Manafort has been hit with a wave of negative headlines lately regarding his previous work in Ukraine for a pro-Putin political party. First came reports of a secret $12 million cash fund for him, then an AP investigation alleging that he "orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine's then-ruling [and pro-Russian] political party." The work was never reported, as required under federal law.

“This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign," says Trump in a statement, per Politico. "I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us 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." (More Paul Manafort stories.)