WASHINGTON — Amid unrelenting criticism of how the Republican National Committee has spent donors’ dollars, chairman Michael Steele on Monday accepted the resignation of his chief of staff and allowed a senior adviser to exit the inner workings of his political machine. The turnover hinted at changes that some top Republicans hoped would include the chairman himself.
RNC chief of staff Ken Mc Kay became the highest-profile departure from the central committee after the revelation that the committee had picked up a nearly $2,000 tab at a sex- themed California night club.
Steele insisted Monday that he would not resign and defended his stewardship of party affairs. He dismissed criticism — some of it has centered on spending for flights, limos and high-dollar hotels — as the talk of GOP figures uncomfortable with his “streetwise” style.
