Trump camp refusing to pay pollster
Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is reportedly refusing to pay some of veteran Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio’s expenses.
The campaign’s latest Federal Election Commission (FEC) report shows it contesting $766,756.67 that Fabrizio’s firm says it is owed for polling, The Washington Post reported Monday.
{mosads}FEC records show the debt to Fabrizio Lee, the pollster’s Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based firm., listed as a “contested” expense.
The records also include a separate $55,300 debt to his organization that is not contested.
Trump campaign officials on Monday refused comment on the dispute.
“This is an administrative issue we’re resolving internally,” senior communications adviser Jason Miller told the Post.
Federal filings show the Committee on Arrangements gave Fabrizio Lee $273,378 in July for work during the Republican National Convention.
The Washington Post said Trump has tapped four other polling firms to survey voters since August besides Fabrizio’s.
One of the firms belongs to current campaign manager Kellyanne Conway and has received $673,000 through Oct. 19, filings show.
Trump’s campaign hired Fabrizio in May before the real estate tycoon had clinched the Republican nomination.
Fabrizio is close friends with former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort and has advised prominent Republicans including 1996 presidential nominee Bob Dole and Gov. Rick Scott (R-Fla.).
Manafort abruptly resigned from Trump’s campaign in August amid reports of internal turmoil. He was replaced by Conway.
New York Magazine reported Saturday that Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner have both disagreed with Fabrizio over campaign strategy in recent weeks. Kushner and Trump reportedly clashed with Fabrizio about focus groups and campaign ads.
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