Former Sheriff David Clarke is joining an outside pro-Trump group instead of the White House, and a new report says that John Kelly was a major reason why Clarke didn’t end up in the administration.

A new report from The Daily Beast reveals that Clarke was indeed being considered for a White House role, but Kelly––the former Secretary of Homeland Security––was opposed to Clarke joining not just the White House, but the Department of Homeland Security.

You may remember the news that Clarke had said he was joining DHS before withdrawing from consideration.

The Daily Beast report says Kelly had been adamant about this:

Four sources working in and close to the Trump White House said his failure to land a gig in the West Wing or at the Department of Homeland Security, where Clarke unsuccessfully sought a job earlier this year, was in large part the result of opposition from White House chief of staff John Kelly. Kelly led DHS until late July. Though Clarke had been discussed for a possible White House communications or outreach role, Kelly’s position as chief of staff made the arrangement a “non-starter,” as one senior White House official put it. Earlier this year, while serving as DHS Secretary, Kelly had informed Clarke that an appointment to that department would not happen in part due to scandal surrounding the treatment of inmates in Clarke’s jail, and the ensuing negative media attention. According to two sources familiar with the discussions, this led to Clarke formally “rescinding” his intention to join the Trump administration in mid-June.

Departing Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller has reportedly been telling people he doesn’t think Kelly likes Trump personally.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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