One thing is even more certain than death or taxes: if someone gets in trouble, then Donald Trump never knew them. Even before today’s indictments, Paul Manafort morphed from someone who had lived in Trump Tower since 2006 and chaired Trump’s campaign through most of the primaries and into the convention, into someone Trump had worked with “for a very short time.” Felix Sater. Sergei Milian. Carter Page. And, of course, George Papadopoulos. They all became nothing burgers as soon as their names became of interest to the FBI or other authorities.
Today it was Rick Gates’ turn. Gates might not appear in the news as often as his boss, Paul Manafort, but that’s because until the indictment Gates had mostly seemed to avoid the limelight. What he didn’t avoid was working with Donald Trump.
Gates, the longtime lobbying partner of Manafort, was indicted alongside his previous business partner on Monday. Long after Manafort formally left the presidential campaign, Gates lingered around in a number of capacities. He visited the White House numerous times, including as recently as this summer. And on top of that, he was one of six former Trump campaign aides who helped start the nonprofit group America First Policies to support the president’s agenda shortly after his inauguration.
Just because Gates was one of the founders of America Fist Policies doesn’t mean he was actually involved in it.
… On Monday, Gates too found his place under the proverbial bus. Though he had left America First Policies just two months into President Trump’s term, another official with that organization, Katrina Pierson, now insists that he was never formally involved.
Rick Gates was never formally involved with the group he founded. George Papadopoulos was nothing but a volunteer.
The line of those who have come and gone from the Trump White House is already longer than the list for many two-term administrations. The list of The Forgotten seems even longer.
As Mueller rolls out more indictments, Trump will keep rolling out his bus.