Former Trump aide to run for Congress
Papadopoulos was imprisoned for lying in Russia probe
George Papadopoulos’ first major political role, as an adviser to the Trump campaign in 2016, catapulted him into an international scandal and landed him in federal prison.
Now a free man living in California, Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty in 2017 to lying to federal agents investigating Russian interference in President Trump’s election, is planning to make his return to politics as a candidate for Congress.
His seat of choice? The one occupied by Rep. Katie Hill, D-Calif., who said Sunday that she is resigning amid an ethics investigation into allegations that she had been romantically involved with her legislative director. Hill has denied the charge but admitted engaging in a consensual three-person relationship with her now-estranged husband and a member of her campaign staff. The freshman lawmaker, who identifies as bisexual, became embroiled in controversy earlier this month after a conservative news site and British tabloid published nude photos of Hill without her consent.
On Tuesday, Papadopoulos, 32, filed paperwork to run as a Republican in California’s 25th District, and he is expected to formally announce his candidacy later this week, Fox News reported. The news was met with swift backlash from California Assemblywoman Christy Smith, the only Democrat in the race for Hill’s seat. Three Republicans are also running, The Associated Press reported.
“If he pled guilty to lying to the FBI — how do we know he’ll tell us the truth?” Smith tweeted, tagging Papadopoulos. “We deserve someone from our community serving as our voice — not @realDonaldTrump’s wannabe political hack!”
Smith later ratcheted up her criticism, sharing a video that appeared to mock the former Trump adviser over the short amount of time he’s lived in California. Papadopoulos, who is originally from Illinois, moved west with his wife after he was sentenced in September 2018.
“Hey, guess what — this is California,” Smith said in Tuesday’s video, slapping her hand on a map of the United States. “And as soon as you can identify my district on here, you let us know.”