CNN Hires Trump's Ex--Campaign Manager

Corey Lewandowski

Three days after being ousted from the Donald Trump campaign, Corey Lewandowski is a political commentator for CNN.

On Thursday Lewandowski joined CNN's stable of political experts who appear across the channel's newscasts and talk shows.

For CNN executives, the hiring was a coup. Lewandowski brings first-hand experience running a historic presidential campaign.

But, reports CNN's media pundit Brian Stetler, his hiring was also highly controversial, even within the newsroom, in part because he has a reputation for being hostile toward journalists.

There are also swirling questions about whether Lewandowski is still bound to Trump somehow.
Like other Trump employees, he signed a non-disclosure agreement that ensures he will not share confidential information.

The agreement likely included a "non-disparagement clause," impeding his ability to criticize Trump publicly.

On Thursday night, in his first appearance as a CNN commentator, anchor Erin Burnett asked about the existence of such a clause, and Lewandowski declined to answer directly.