Donald Trump's presidential campaign manager Corey Lewandowski — the focus of a
reporter's allegation that he forcibly grabbed and bruised her arm last week — has previously provoked concerns from co-workers,
Politico reports.
Citing interviews with more than 20 people who've dealt with Lewandowski in the Trump campaign and at his previous job with the conservative advocacy group Americans For Prosperity, Politico reports that complaints against Lewandowski include his alleged rough behavior with reporters, officials and co-workers.
A group of current and former high-ranking members of the campaign even planned to give Trump a letter outlining their concerns, but tabled the plan as the GOP front-runner began racking up primary and caucus wins, Politico reports.
According to Politico, one Lewandowski dust-up involved a tirade against officials who organized the Conservative Political Action Conference after they insisted Trump field questions after delivering his scheduled speech.
Trump canceled his appearance.
"He can get really hot headed at times," one unnamed reporter tells Politico, which reports other journalists charge Lewandowski has allegedly made vulgar comments to and about women reporters.
In an email to Politico, Lewandowski denies he's ever behaved inappropriately with female journalists, and says he welcomes dissenting viewpoints, describing his relationship with the Trump family as "solid."
The concerns come as GOP presidential rival Texas Sen. Ted Cruz blasted Lewandowski over the alleged manhandling incident, calling it a
"fireable offense."
Speaking to reporters in Illinois late Monday, Cruz described the Trump campaign as reaching a new "height of disdain from a candidate for reporters and voters," Politico reports.
Trump has defended Lewandowski in the manhandling allegation involving former
Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields — and, according to Politico, trusts and is loyal to his campaign manager.
For his part, Lewandowski allegedly claims he's in line to be White House chief of staff if Trump wins the presidency, Politico reports.
In his email, Lewandowski says little about his 5-and-a-half years at Americans For Prosperity, Politico reports; at AFP, he rose from the director of the group's New Hampshire chapter to its East Coast regional director before he left to work for Trump, Politico reports.
"Corey was kind of a cowboy, and he was fun," one former co-worker tells Politico. "He gave AFP a cool factor that we didn't have, but there were some cultural problems."
According to Politico, one clash involved a female official whom Lewandowski berated in October 2013, Politico reports, using a slur against her in front of other staffers. Both AFP and the female staffer declined to comment, Politico reports.
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