Corey Lewandowski, President Trump’s first campaign manager, used a television appearance this past weekend to advocate for his client’s interests with the Trump administration, according to a report Tuesday.
Lewandowski, who advises Trump in an informal capacity, left a consulting firm he started, called Avenue Strategies, in May after pressure from advocacy groups alleging conflicts of interest. But about a week after leaving the firm, Lewandowski started a new consulting business called Lewandowski Strategic Advisors, the New York Times reported, citing corporate filings.
One of his clients with the new firm is an Ohio-based payday lender, Community Choice Financial, that aims to block or overturn federal financial regulations. Payday lenders such as these have fought efforts by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to curb what it considers to be abusive loan practices.
Lewandowski, on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, called for Trump to fire Richard Cordray, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, who is a holdover from the Obama administration.
Asked by host Chuck Todd if he has a client who would want Cordray fired, Lewandowski said: “No, no. I have no clients whatsoever.”
But a draft contract obtained by the Times shows the Ohio-based payday lending company offered Lewandowski a $20,000-a-month retainer in return for “strategic advice and counsel designed to further the goals of Community Choice Financial.”
In an email to the Times, Lewandowski claimed to not be doing any lobbying.
“I don’t lobby and I don’t intend to lobby — ever,” he said.
Lewandowski has become more visibly engaged with the White House in recent weeks.
Last week, Lewandowski traveled with Trump aboard Air Force Once to a rally in Ohio.
