Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Mike Pence's top aides to depart White House after year of high-profile exits

Adds to an exodus of aides from the Trump White House

Jeremy B. White
San Francisco
Friday 05 January 2018 23:01 GMT
Comments
Mike Pence speaks to troops in a hangar at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan
Mike Pence speaks to troops in a hangar at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan (REUTERS/Mandel Ngan/Pool)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Top aides to Vice President Mike Pence are reportedly leaving, continuing the staff turnover that has seen the Trump administration churn through high-level aides.

According to CNN, Mr Pence’s chief counsel and domestic policy adviser are both leaving the Vice President’s office, moves that follow the departure of his erstwhile chief of staff and press secretary.

The staffing changes continue a pattern for the Trump administration, which has seen an unusual number of aides depart a chaotic White House that has been labouring under the cloud of Robert Mueller’s investigation into potential ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government.

While it is typical to have some level of turnover over the course of a President’s tenure, it is unusual to have numerous people depart in the first year.

Other prominent aides who did not survive a full year of the Trump presidency include former adviser Steve Bannon, former press secretary Sean Spicer, former chief of staff Reince Priebus, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and short-lived communications director Anthony Scaramucci.

The White House has this week sought to distance the administration and Donald Trump from Mr Bannon, a campaign architect and former top adviser, who exited the White House in August and is quoted in a new book disparaging Mr Trump’s family and calling a meeting between campaign officials and a Russian emissary “treasonous”.

A statement from Mr Trump excoriating Mr Bannon seemed to dissolve their remaining ties, and influential conservative donor Rebekah Mercer renounced Mr Bannon in a rare public statement.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in