Former President Donald Trump has expressed his satisfaction with the departure of the head of the Republican National Committee’s legal department. Charlie Spies, who had been serving as the RNC’s chief counsel and is known as a respected election lawyer, left the organization after just a short time, reportedly due to ongoing tensions with Trump supporters.
Trump cheers on resignation of Charlie Spies as RNC's chief legal counsel https://t.co/JztOjcyRLa
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 6, 2024
Taking to Truth Social, Mr. Trump hailed the news, describing it as “Great news for the Republican Party.” He also referred to Spies as a “RINO lawyer” and wished him well in his future endeavors. Spies has previously worked for Jeb Bush, Mitt Romney, and Ron DeSantis – all of whom have clashed with Mr. Trump in recent years.
The RNC attributed Spies’ departure to “potential time commitment conflicts.” According to RNC spokesperson Danielle Alvarez, it was agreed that Spies could not fulfill the role full time while also maintaining his obligations to his law firm practice. The RNC has been undergoing significant changes in recent months, with Ronna McDaniel stepping down earlier this year amid criticisms of the party’s electoral struggles during her tenure.
Following Mr. Trump’s influence, the RNC appointed Michael Whatley, a Trump loyalist, as the party’s new national chairman and Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, as co-chair. This leadership shakeup serves as a reminder of Mr. Trump’s strong influence over the party and comes ahead of his expected nomination as the party’s presidential nominee.