The Republican National Committee’s chief counsel, Charlie Spies, was asked to step down from his position just two months after starting, amidst controversy surrounding conflicts with other clients at his firm, as reported by sources familiar with the situation.
Spies, an experienced election-law attorney hired by the R.N.C. in March for his expertise in leveraging existing regulations for campaigns and candidates, has faced criticism since joining the committee.
Requests for comments from the Trump campaign and the R.N.C. went unanswered, while Spies declined to provide a statement.
Critics pointed to Spies’ previous work, which included involvement in Governor Ron DeSantis’ campaign, supporting Jeb Bush against Donald J. Trump in the 2016 Republican primary, and working with Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election, as reasons for his dismissal.
These factors contributed to the decision to remove him, according to sources. Concerns arose in recent weeks over Spies’ firm’s continued ties to Governor DeSantis, as he did not sever connections when taking on the R.N.C. role.
A meeting between DeSantis and Trump aimed to mend their relationship after a contentious primary battle. Trump’s team, facing fundraising challenges against President Biden’s campaign, sees DeSantis as a potential asset in raising funds. However, questions arose about potential conflicts of interest for Spies, leading to his departure.
