Paul Manafort, Donald Trump's Campaign Chairman, Resigns Amid Campaign Reshuffle and Controversy

Paul Manafort, the embattled campaign chairman for Donald Trump, resigned on Friday morning, the Republican nominee said in a statement.

"This morning Paul Manafort offered, and I accepted, his resignation from the campaign," said Trump. "I am very appreciative for his great work in helping to get us where we are today, and in particular his work guiding us through the delegate and convention process. Paul is a true professional and I wish him the greatest success."

The resignation comes amid a campaign reshuffle and reports of off-the-books cash payments Manafort received for consulting work he did for a pro-Russian party in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, the Republican nominee tapped Breitbart News Chairman Stephen Bannon for a new position as campaign chief executive and pollster Kellyanne Conway, who has been a campaign adviser in recent weeks, as campaign manager, signaling a diminished role for Manafort.

Manafort, a GOP campaign veteran, joined the Trump campaign in March to professionalize the operation, which had been run with very little money or organization. He won a power struggle with former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who was fired in June.

As poll numbers have dropped, the Republican establishment has called on Trump to become more presidential in his manners and overall approach to the campaign. Trump, however, has resisted, and Manafort had grown increasingly frustrated at his candidate's unwillingness to change.

"I am who I am," Trump said on Tuesday. "It’s me. I don’t want to change. Everyone talks about, ‘Oh, well you’re going to pivot.’ I don’t want to pivot. I mean, you have to be you. If you start pivoting, you’re not being honest with people."

In recent days, Manafort has been the subject of several reports about the work he did for a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party, in which he is accused of receiving more than $12 million in off-the-books cash payments — something he vehemently denies.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons