Politics

Mike Rogers Kicked Off Trump Transition Team

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Russ Read Pentagon/Foreign Policy Reporter
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Mike Rogers, the Trump transition team national security advisor, left his position just days after the President-elect’s monumental win.

Technically speaking, the former chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence resigned, but Bloomberg Politics reported Tuesday that his resignation came at the request of Trump team officials. The Trump transition team is in the midst of a major change of personnel, which included the Friday demotion of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie from chairman of the transition team to vice chairman. Vice President-elect Mike Pence replaced the New Jersey governor as chairman.

“These past six months, it has been an honor to serve as National Security Senior Advisor to the Trump transition team,” said Rogers in a statement after his resignation. “Our work will provide a strong foundation for the new transition team leadership as they move into the post-election phase, which naturally is incorporating the campaign team in New York who drove President-elect Trump to an incredible victory last Tuesday.”

A source close to Rogers told NBC News that the former congressman was the victim of a “Stalinesque purge” of anyone close to Christie. It is believed Christie was removed due to a perceived lack of loyalty to Trump during the campaign.

Rogers served as a representative for Michigan’s 8th Congressional District for 14 years, four of which he spent chairing the Intelligence Committee. Prior to his political career, Rogers served in the Army and as an FBI special agent. He was thought to be a leading candidate for director of the CIA, but a source told NBC News Rep. Devin Nunes, the current chair of the House Intelligence Committee, is now being considered for the job.

The Trump transition team has several senior leadership slots to fill by January. The team confirmed Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus will serve as chief of staff for the new administration, while former Trump campaign CEO Stephen Bannon will serve as chief adviser.

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