Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) likely angered some House GOP leaders on Monday when he hired an operative they fired last month for allegedly leaking information to conservative groups to undermine the establishment Republican agenda.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-TX., leaves the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. In its last hours before Congress shuts down for the year, the Senate is voting on several nominations. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
On Monday morning, Cruz welcomed Paul Teller as his new deputy chief of staff. Teller, who is expected to begin work on Thursday, is the former executive director of the Republican Study Committee.
"Paul's many years of experience working in Congress and his tireless work to advance conservative principles make him a tremendous addition to our team. I look forward to working with him to keep making Texans' voices heard in Washington and to promote a positive policy agenda that will restore economic growth, rein in government overreach, and protect Americans' personal liberties," Cruz said in a statement.
Teller was fired after he was accused of leaking internal information to conservative groups in an effort to derail the "bipartisan" budget deal struck by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Many conservatives have expressed frustration over the deal.
Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the head of the Republican Study Committee, announced Teller's firing and said he no longer had the "trust" of lawmakers in the group.
In a statement, Teller said it is an "honor and privilege to work for Sen. Cruz." He also called Cruz's leadership "truly motivating."
(H/T: HuffPost)
