Trump adviser says he is ditching 'drain the swamp'
WASHINGTON (AP) — One of Donald Trump's advisers says the president-elect is no longer interested in his rallying cry "drain the swamp."
Gingrich, a vice chairman of the transition team, also predicted there would be "constant fighting" over Trump's efforts to reduce the influence of lobbyists and Washington insiders.
Trump's aides say he remains committed to his underlying swamp-draining policies, such as banning outgoing Trump transition and administration members from lobbying for five years.
Yet Trump aide Corey Lewandowski's decision to open up a consulting shop just a block from the White House shows that insiders will continue to play a role in the Trump administration.
Lewandowski, who was Trump's first campaign manager, and former Trump adviser Barry Bennett have formed a government relations and political consulting firm and are pitching their ties to Trump as they seek clients.
For Trump voters who had hoped he would shake up Washington, those may be irrelevant distinctions, said Meredith McGehee, chief of policy, programs and strategy at the government reform group Issue One.
"What you have is a series of people who've made a very, very good living by controlling politicians through their donations and making sure they get the legislation done — or not done — in Washington, DC, to best benefit their clients," Lewandowski said.