The top aide to Mayor Sandy Stimpson of Mobile, Ala., announced Thursday he will resign following a local scandal related to President-elect Trump’s visit to the city earlier this month.
Chief of staff Colby Cooper will leave his post March 31 to pursue new opportunities, according to a statement from Stimpson’s office.
Neither party mentioned Cooper’s role in ordering a large tree cut down from a public park so it could be used as a Christmas tree at Trump’s rally in Mobile on Dec. 17. But Cooper faced widespread criticism over the decision.
Cooper oversaw the logistics of Trump’s final “thank you” rally in Mobile, which included working with Secret Service and setting the scene for the rally.
“During the stadium preparations, we discussed the President-elect’s theme and message,” Cooper told Alabama.com. “It was very much Christmas themed and future of America focused. I suggested the Christmas tree as a possible backdrop to coincide with his messaging and podium sign that said ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Thank you.'”
In an effort to cover up the decrepit scoreboard at the Ladd–Peebles Stadium, Cooper got permission from the city’s urban forester to cut down a 50-foot cedar at a public city park.
A crane was used to lift the large tree high enough to stand in front of the scoreboard, behind where Trump delivered his speech.
Word traveled around the Alabama city of what the tree had been cut down and used for, prompting an outcry from concerned residents. Cooper apologized for his decision to use the tree as a prop for a political event, but maintained the tree was cut down legally and was not done so at the request of Trump. He also promised to pay for three new trees to be planted in the park.
City spokesman George Talbot later said the tree had termite damage to it.
Cooper did not respond to a request for comment.
