Corey Lewandowski launches government relations and political consulting firm

Corey Lewandowski announced Wednesday that he is launching a government relations and political consulting firm with former Donald Trump adviser Barry Bennett. Lewandowski was Trump's first campaign manager and later served as a CNN commentator, though he left his job at CNN just three days after the election amid rumors that he might take a role in the Trump administration.

"I will always be President-elect Trump's biggest supporter," Lewandowski said in a statement. "After considering multiple opportunities within the administration, I informed him and his team I think I can best help him outside the formal structure of government." The firm, Avenue Strategies, is reportedly located just a block from the White House:

Trump made "draining the swamp" a central message to his political campaign, a term that "is not just about lobbying and politicians [but] also about consultants," as explained by another former Trump campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway.