Republican National Committee chief counsel Charlie Spies is parting ways with the party apparatus just months after taking office. He was “expelled”, according to a source close to the matter.
“Charlie contacted RNC Chief of Staff Chris LaCivita regarding possible time commitment conflicts and it was agreed that while we appreciate and appreciate Charlie’s expertise and professionalism, he cannot assume this role full-time while still meeting obligations to his law firm that he has spent years successfully building,” RNC spokesperson Danielle Alvarez said in an initial statement to NBCNews.
Spies did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday evening.
NBC News Previously reported that Spies was hired in March to lead the committee’s legal efforts as part of the RNC leadership overhaul, when former chairman Donald Trump endorsed Michael Whatley to lead the organization, effectively reshaping the committee in his image.
Spies had previously been described by a campaign official as “the best at what he does, knows the FEC’s flaws better than anyone” but as a “gun for hire.”
However, Spies was not a fan of the former president.
He previously worked for the governor of Florida. Ron DeSantis during the GOP primary. The longtime Republican lawyer is known for expanding the use of super PACs after the landmark Citizens United decision.
The spies were also behind Right to stand upthe super PAC that Jeb Bush used during the 2016 cycle to raise a record 100 million dollars in the months preceding the official announcement of his candidacy. Spies filed a complaint in 2015 with the Federal Election Commission against the Trump Organization while serving in its role as a super PAC.
Spies also worked with Rep. John James, R-Mich., and served on Mitt Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign.
His wife, Lisa Spies, a famous GOP fundraiser, worked for the campaign leading donor coalitions. Lisa Spies was a fundraiser for DeSantis before joining the Trump campaign.
Hiring of the Attorney General came when Whatley took over as head of the organization in March. Whatley was handpicked by Trump with the former president’s daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.
Ronna McDaniel, Whatley’s predecessor as RNC chair, had resigned after facing internal party criticism and public skepticism from the former president.
Spies has also previously dismissed election-related conspiracy theories that have been touted by Trump’s allies.
In 2021, spies publicly contradicted false claims about voting machines changing votes. When asked on a Conservative Political Action Conference panel what to do if voting machines change votes, he opposed the idea. false conspiracy theory which was supported by Trump’s allies.
“I might get booed off stage for this, but I have to say it’s simply not true. There’s no proof that it’s true,” Spies said at the time.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
