Michael Roman, a longtime opposition researcher who worked in the White House counsel’s office, said in a goodbye note sent to other White House aides that he was leaving “with a heavy heart.“ | Getty Images Oppo researcher leaves White House Michael Roman, a former Koch operative, served as the right-hand man to the White House’s top attorney.

Michael Roman, a longtime opposition researcher who worked in the White House counsel’s office, has left the Trump administration.

Roman served as a special assistant to the president and director of special projects and research. His last day was Friday, according to an email obtained by POLITICO.


Roman said in a goodbye note sent to other White House aides that he was leaving “with a heavy heart“ and that “it has been an honor to serve President Trump and the American people.”

He had been commuting between Washington and Philadelphia since the inauguration and, with his wife pregnant and his family expanding, he wanted to return to Philly full-time, said a person familiar with the situation.

Roman acted as right-hand man to the White House’s top attorney, Don McGahn, and helped vet judicial nominations, including that of Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

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As a former Koch operative and longtime opposition researcher, he cut a mysterious figure in the White House — as one of the few high-level non-lawyers working in the White House counsel’s office. Few were certain of his exact job.

On his blog, called Election Journal, Roman describes himself as a “veteran political consultant and private investigator.”

He also worked on the Trump campaign and helped out with poll-watching and voter turnout in Pennsylvania in the final days leading up to the election.