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Donald Trump Hires First and Deals With Background Questions Later Donald Trump Hires First and Deals With Background Questions Later
(about 2 hours later)
Donald J. Trump has called for “extreme vetting” to determine who is allowed to enter the United States, but when it comes to his presidential campaign he has shown a propensity to be lenient when it comes to the kinds of red flags that might scare off other candidates. Donald J. Trump has called for “extreme vetting” to determine who is allowed to enter the United States, but when it comes to his presidential campaign, he has shown a propensity to be lenient when it comes to the kinds of red flags that might scare off other candidates.
Last week Paul Manafort resigned from Mr. Trump’s campaign after revelations of his Ukrainian business dealings. On Thursday Stephen K. Bannon, the newly hired campaign chief executive, was ensnared in controversy over domestic violence charges made against him in the 1990s. Last week, Paul Manafort resigned from Mr. Trump’s campaign after revelations of his Ukrainian business dealings. On Thursday, Stephen K. Bannon, the newly hired campaign chief executive, was ensnared in controversy over domestic violence charges made against him in the 1990s.
The hires and subsequent firestorms have created distractions for Mr. Trump’s campaign and raised questions about the management style of a Republican nominee who has based his candidacy on his business acumen and his ability to surround himself with the best people.The hires and subsequent firestorms have created distractions for Mr. Trump’s campaign and raised questions about the management style of a Republican nominee who has based his candidacy on his business acumen and his ability to surround himself with the best people.
The case against Mr. Bannon, who took a leave from the conservative website Breitbart News to join the campaign, was eventually dropped. He had pleaded not guilty to allegations that he had grabbed his wife by the wrist and neck during an altercation and threatened her with retribution if she testified against him.The case against Mr. Bannon, who took a leave from the conservative website Breitbart News to join the campaign, was eventually dropped. He had pleaded not guilty to allegations that he had grabbed his wife by the wrist and neck during an altercation and threatened her with retribution if she testified against him.
Mr. Manafort was never charged with any crimes, but his leadership role in the campaign became untenable after it became known that $12.7 million from a pro-Russia political party had been earmarked for him. The revelation underscored criticism that Mr. Trump is too cozy with Russia and its president, Vladimir V. Putin.Mr. Manafort was never charged with any crimes, but his leadership role in the campaign became untenable after it became known that $12.7 million from a pro-Russia political party had been earmarked for him. The revelation underscored criticism that Mr. Trump is too cozy with Russia and its president, Vladimir V. Putin.
A squeaky-clean past does not appear to be a prerequisite for working on the Trump campaign. On Thursday the campaign hired Bill Stepien, a former top aide to Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey whose role in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal led to his firing. Mr. Stepien, who is expected to bolster Mr. Trump’s political operation, was excluded from a top-level role in Mr. Christie’s presidential campaign because of his involvement in the scandal engulfing the governor’s administration. A squeaky-clean past does not appear to be a prerequisite for working on the Trump campaign. On Thursday, the campaign hired Bill Stepien, a former top aide to Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey whose role in the George Washington Bridge lane-closing scandal led to his firing. Mr. Stepien, who is expected to bolster Mr. Trump’s political operation, was excluded from a top-level role in Mr. Christie’s presidential campaign because of his involvement in the scandal engulfing the governor’s administration.
“I’m betting he hasn’t done any due diligence on any of these folks,” Dave Ulrich, a management professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said of Mr. Trump. “It’s leadership on instinct.”“I’m betting he hasn’t done any due diligence on any of these folks,” Dave Ulrich, a management professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, said of Mr. Trump. “It’s leadership on instinct.”
The Trump campaign would not discuss its vetting process for hiring people, and it was unclear if Mr. Trump knew about Mr. Bannon’s brush with the law.The Trump campaign would not discuss its vetting process for hiring people, and it was unclear if Mr. Trump knew about Mr. Bannon’s brush with the law.
“I don’t know what he was aware of with respect to a 20-year-old claim where the charges were dropped,” Kellyanne Conway, Mr. Trump’s new campaign manager, told ABC News on Friday.“I don’t know what he was aware of with respect to a 20-year-old claim where the charges were dropped,” Kellyanne Conway, Mr. Trump’s new campaign manager, told ABC News on Friday.
Mr. Bannon, Mr. Manafort and Mr. Stepien are not the first of Mr. Trump’s hires to come with baggage. Mr. Manafort’s predecessor, Corey Lewandowski, also came with some warning signs. As a congressional aide, he was once arrested after he brought a gun to work. He also ended up distracting Mr. Trump’s campaign after he was charged with battery in April for allegedly grabbing the arm of a reporter. Those charges were later dropped.Mr. Bannon, Mr. Manafort and Mr. Stepien are not the first of Mr. Trump’s hires to come with baggage. Mr. Manafort’s predecessor, Corey Lewandowski, also came with some warning signs. As a congressional aide, he was once arrested after he brought a gun to work. He also ended up distracting Mr. Trump’s campaign after he was charged with battery in April for allegedly grabbing the arm of a reporter. Those charges were later dropped.
Mr. Trump, who once tried to trademark the phrase “you’re fired,” which he popularized as star of “The Apprentice,” has shown a tendency to hire with his gut in other instances. During a news conference at the construction site of his Washington hotel in March, he plucked a woman from the audience and offered her a job with his company.Mr. Trump, who once tried to trademark the phrase “you’re fired,” which he popularized as star of “The Apprentice,” has shown a tendency to hire with his gut in other instances. During a news conference at the construction site of his Washington hotel in March, he plucked a woman from the audience and offered her a job with his company.
“She seemed like a good person to me,” Mr. Trump said after the event.“She seemed like a good person to me,” Mr. Trump said after the event.
Other presidential campaigns have had thorough vetting processes when bringing on new staffers. A former aide to Mitt Romney, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the inner workings of that campaign, said that the 2012 nominee did extensive background checks and that potential hires who had even D.W.I. convictions did not make the cut. Other presidential campaigns have had thorough vetting processes when bringing on new staff members. A former aide to Mitt Romney, who asked to remain anonymous to discuss the inner workings of that campaign, said that the 2012 nominee did extensive background checks and that potential hires who had even D.W.I. convictions did not make the cut.
Some said that Mr. Trump’s penchant for giving second chances could be a good thing, as people who have had personal or career setbacks often work harder to make the most of such opportunities.Some said that Mr. Trump’s penchant for giving second chances could be a good thing, as people who have had personal or career setbacks often work harder to make the most of such opportunities.
“They are grateful for the opportunity,” said Steve Kerr, an adviser to Goldman Sachs who used to lead the Jack Welch Management Institute, an online educational program. However, Mr. Kerr said, it is important for someone doing the hiring to be aware of any black marks that could be relevant to a new position.“They are grateful for the opportunity,” said Steve Kerr, an adviser to Goldman Sachs who used to lead the Jack Welch Management Institute, an online educational program. However, Mr. Kerr said, it is important for someone doing the hiring to be aware of any black marks that could be relevant to a new position.
“It would be incompetent vetting and recruiting if he didn’t know this stuff,” he added.“It would be incompetent vetting and recruiting if he didn’t know this stuff,” he added.