CNN has admitted the truth: former Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is receiving “severance payments” from the Trump organization while serving as a (highly) paid political analyst for CNN.
Over the past two days, in two separate segments featuring Lewandowski, a CNN anchor has introduced Lewandowski by mentioning that he is “still receiving severance from the Trump campaign.”
In one instance, captured by the Center for American Progress’s Media Matters website, host Don Lemon is careful to outline Lewandowski’s continued relationship with the Trump campaign, while bringing him in to speak on President Obama’s speech at the slain Dallas officers’ memorial (watch here).
Although Corey Lewandowski has appeared several times as a “senior political contributor” on CNN since he was hired at the network in late June, it appears that July 11th is the first time these “severance payments” were disclosed by the network. Perhaps Lewandowski declined to inform CNN of them at the time of his hire?
Lewandowski has been a staunch defender of the Trump campaign on CNN, despite having been “fired”. He’s stepped in at some of Trump’s most controversial moments, from defending Trump’s “Star of David” Tweet, to Trump’s strange speech about Brexit on the grounds of his Scotland golf course.
The big question here: is Corey Lewandowski still technically employed by the Trump Organization? If he’s receiving his “severance” in the form of regular checks rather than having gotten it all as a lump sum, our human resources experts tell us that may well be the case.
So is Lewandowski still getting regular paychecks from Trump for a certain period of time? Or has he formally separated from his employer and is simply receiving severance in installments, which would be unusual?
Also, is he still receiving other compensation, such as health benefits and 401(k) contributions, from the Trump Organization, which unlike your typical presidential campaign is a longstanding employer? Does he still receive free lodging in a Trump building?
Where is Corey now resting his head at night when he’s in New York for CNN appearances? (His home is in New Hampshire). Is CNN putting him up? Or is he still on the Trump dole?
The Trump campaign has certainly shown interest in seeking out sweetheart deals wherever they can, so it’s possible the Trump campaign has tried to have it both ways: a staunch supporter with a significant media platform, but legally and financially committed to the campaign for the long term.
What we do know: Lewandowski is bound by the same “forever” nondisclosure agreement that all Trump employees are required to sign as a condition of their employment. Whether he’s on the payroll or not, he’s bound for life by a vow of silence. Unless he’s praising the campaign, we gather from his ebullient defenses of Trump on CNN.
CNN has strict editorial standards and practices policies and an Office of Standards and Practices established after the humiliating Operation Tailwind scandal in 1998. Our guess is that hiring a paid, current employee of the Trump Organization still receiving salary and health benefits (if Corey is indeed in that position) would be a violation of CNN’s internal rules.
CNN may want to have a second – or first – look at the exact package Corey signed with his “former” employer.
In search of clarity and enlightenment, Heat Street has reached out to CNN’s Standards and Practices department for comment but has yet to receive the clarification we desire.