Corey Lewandowski -- the fired former manager of the campaign to elect Donald Trump president -- is reportedly still receiving funds from the Trump campaign, even as he appears as a paid commentator on news network CNN.
According to Media Matters, on Jul. 11 and 12, Lewandowski was introduced by hosts Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon as "still receiving severance from the Trump campaign."
Lewandowski was fired from the campaign three weeks ago and was almost immediately hired by CNN as a political commentator.
"Media observers have harshly criticized CNN over Lewandowski’s hiring pointing to his non-disclosure and likely non-disparagement agreements with the Trump campaign as 'profoundly disturbing' ethical conflicts," wrote Media Matters' Matt Gertz. "Since his hiring, Lewandowski has by his own admission continued to advise the Trump campaign, even pushing a camera away from the candidate during a campaign stop."
Lewandowski was a controversial hire from the outset, given his ongoing loyalty to the Trump campaign as well as questions surrounding his manhandling of a woman reporter from Trump-friendly Internet outlet Breitbart.com.
Defenders of CNN's decision to put Lewandowski on the payroll say that the network regularly features guests and commentators with ties to the Hillary Clinton's campaign. However, Media Matters noted, "employing a contributor who continues to be paid by the candidate whose performance and positions he is being asked to analyze appears unprecedented."
