Past Work For Liz Cheney Cost A ‘sherpa’ His Trump Transition Role

Michael Allen, a longtime Republican national security expert, was recently ousted as the “sherpa” for CIA director nominee John Ratcliffe because he had co-hosted a campaign fundraiser for Liz Cheney, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Allen, who helped organize a fundraiser for top Trump critic Cheney in February 2021, had already begun organizing Hill meetings for Ratcliffe when he was pushed from his role in recent weeks, the people familiar, who include a transition official, told POLITICO.

The transition official, who like the others was granted anonymity to discuss internal matters, said Allen did a “fine job” in supporting Ratcliffe’s nomination and that his work on behalf of the nominee was mostly wrapped up when he was forced out.

Still, the ouster appeared to be further evidence of efforts within the president-elect’s orbit to purge Republicans who have supported outspoken critics like Cheney, who voted to impeach Trump and served on the House Jan. 6 committee.

“I was happy to pitch in, Ratcliffe will make a great CIA director and I’m looking forward to President Trump’s term,” Allen said in a text message to POLITICO after the story published.

A spokesperson for the transition didn't respond to requests for comment.

“There are all sorts of purity tests in this new administration, more so than in the first term,” said one of the people familiar with Allen’s ouster.

Cheney was chair of the House Republican Conference at the time of the fundraiser, which POLITICO first reported on in mid-December. She survived a vote to remove her from leadership in February 2021 before being removed a few months later. She later became vice chair of the House Jan. 6 committee. The fundraiser cost $5,000 per PAC or $2,500 to personally host or $1,000 to attend. Its host list was packed full of notable D.C. names.

Before joining the private sector, Allen worked on legislative affairs, counter-proliferation strategy and homeland security issues in the George W. Bush White House and as majority staff director on the House Intelligence Committee. He is now a managing director of the consulting firm Beacon Global Strategies LLC.

Ratcliffe’s confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee is this Wednesday. No Democrats have so far come out to publicly support him.