Politico: HarperCollins Backed Away From Lewandowski Book Because Of Concerns About Nondisclosure Agreement

Politico reported that former Trump campaign manager “Corey Lewandowski had a $1.2-million offer from HarperCollins to write a book chronicling his time running Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, but the publishing giant backed away from the deal amid concerns about Lewandowski’s nondisclosure agreement, according to two sources familiar with the talks.”

The reported action by HarperCollins, which is a subsidiary of News Corporation, is in contrast to CNN’s much-criticized hiring of Lewandowski. Politico reported that a “Republican operative familiar with the talks said that HarperCollins officials were concerned about being subjected to criticism similar to that which CNN faced when it signed Lewandowski as an on-air political analyst under a contract that one CNN source suggested was worth somewhere in the low six figures.”

From Politico:

The sources said HarperCollins asked to review a copy of the nondisclosure agreement Lewandowski signed as a precondition of his employment with Trump in order to assess whether the candidate or his campaign would be able to exercise control over anything in the book.

Lewandowski declined to do so, ultimately leading HarperCollins to decide not to renew its initial offer, according to the sources.

The Republican operative familiar with the talks said that HarperCollins officials were concerned about being subjected to criticism similar to that which CNN faced when it signed Lewandowski as an on-air political analyst under a contract that one CNN source suggested was worth somewhere in the low six figures.

Many in the media and political spheres questioned whether Lewandowski would be able to add any analysis that sheds actual light on the Trump campaign because of his nondisclosure agreement. New York Times television critic James Poniewozik called Lewandowski’s hire “dubious,” on Twitter adding “if he’s signed an NDA, it’s indefensible.”