Barely a week after being sworn in, two senior members of new Congressman Harley Rouda’s staff are gone. LA Times reporter Christine Mai-Duc tweets late a Thursday that Chief of Staff Mike McLaughlin and Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director Jack DiAnnibale have left the office.
It’s unclear if they quit or were fired.
Rouda’s Office declines comments on internal staffing to the Times. DiAnnibale told Mai-Duc he left to pursue another opportunity. McLaughlin said he’s leaving on good terms. McLaughlin also served as Rouda’s campaign manager. Both men wished Rouda well and say he’ll be a great member of Congress.
Mai-Duc points out turnover of Congressional staffers isn’t unusual, but after only serving one week, the departure of these aides means Rouda is off to a Rocky start. See her Twitter feed @cmaiduc.
Congressman Rouda has neither a district office nor a district phone number. What’s the problem?
He ran as an AND candidate. Anyone But Dana. Too few failed to ask what can you do other than hold down a chair.
Wordtodai is these guys were fired. A week into the job. Rouda campaign won’t confirm
Rouda is well on his way to being a one term Congressman. His inability to honestly address to his constituents, like me, why his top two staffers are gone is a tremendous red flag. OC will flip the seat back and send this Carpetbagger packing.