The character of Kucinich’s departure is now a matter of dispute.
Kucinich mentioned he “was not requested to go away the marketing campaign.” In a cellphone interview, he known as the concept that he was fired “insane” and “completely false.”
Former marketing campaign treasurer John Sullivan mentioned in a cellphone interview that the scenario was extra nuanced and ambiguous than a firing or a resignation.
The previous congressman additionally walked away with $120,000 after leaving the marketing campaign, in keeping with the newest marketing campaign monetary disclosure to the FEC. The fee was made in two installments on Oct. 18, 5 days after his departure was introduced.
Sullivan, who left shortly after Kucinich, mentioned he couldn’t touch upon the specifics of the fee after Kucinich left. Sullivan mentioned it will violate his nondisclosure settlement to debate it, however the fee would have been per the phrases of Kucinich’s contract.
Kennedy’s third-party bid for the White Home is a protracted shot; even getting his identify on the poll will show robust. Whereas Kucinich mentioned it was “silly” to doubt his capacity to guide the marketing campaign, that feeling wasn’t unanimous.
“He’s simply not a terrific supervisor of sources, whether or not monetary or individuals,” mentioned one of many individuals, who — just like the others who have been interviewed for this text — was granted anonymity to debate inside marketing campaign dynamics.
This individual additionally mentioned that Kucinich had been requested to go away the marketing campaign twice earlier than that summer time, however had satisfied Kennedy to maintain him on employees. Kucinich mentioned these incidents didn’t happen.
Throughout his tenure, Kucinich additionally requested the marketing campaign to think about distributors of which he was a component proprietor, this individual mentioned. The marketing campaign in the end declined to make use of them as soon as they turned conscious of Kucinich’s connections to the distributors.
“I’m specializing in the contract. All the pieces that I did was disclosed to the marketing campaign,” he mentioned when requested concerning the distributors.
As marketing campaign supervisor, Kucinich was not paid a wage. The Kennedy marketing campaign paid $430,587 to Kucinich Consulting LLC in consulting charges and journey bills, in keeping with the newest marketing campaign filings. One individual mentioned this represented funds to Kucinich and his spouse, Elizabeth Kucinich, who was additionally engaged on the marketing campaign.
Two of the individuals mentioned that Kucinich attributed any dysfunction to the hectic nature of American presidential campaigns. Kucinich ran for president twice earlier than, in 2004 and 2008. Whereas he injected the competition with anti-Iraq Warfare sentiment and liberal coverage proposals, equivalent to supporting common well being care and free common pre-Okay, he didn’t come near successful the nomination.
“Anyone fabricated [this story] with the intention of smearing me,” Kucinich mentioned.
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former Twitter government and Kennedy’s daughter-in-law, took over as marketing campaign supervisor in October.
“As a public servant, Dennis is an American treasure. For many years, he has stood agency in opposition to the warfare machine and fought for working individuals,” Fox Kennedy mentioned in a press release to POLITICO. “Having witnessed his character and braveness up shut, I’m excited to see him return to public service, the place I do know he’ll proceed his tireless combat for the beliefs that make our nation nice. We will’t wait to work with him in Washington subsequent yr.”
Since leaving the Kennedy marketing campaign Kucinich has since launched a brand new bid for his outdated Home seat in Ohio, at the moment held by Republican Rep. Max Miller. The seat, Ohio’s seventh District, now leans Republican.
