Kris Kobach has a long list of demands for a job that doesn't even exist yet, three people with knowledge of his requests told The New York Times.
President Trump approached the former Kansas secretary of state in April about a job offer, after former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigned, the Times reports. Trump wanted to know if Kobach, an immigration hardliner, might be interested in Nielsen's old position. Trump was concerned that the Senate would not confirm Kobach, so they talked about making an "immigration czar" position. Trump hasn't yet decided if he'll create the role — and if he does, he hasn't settled on hiring Kobach, the Times reports.
Following the meeting, Kobach got to work putting together 10 conditions for his employment, people with knowledge of the matter said. His demands shocked White House staffers; among other things, he asked for an office in the West Wing, weekends off, 24/7 access to a government jet, the ability to walk into the Oval Office whenever he wants, a staff of seven, the title "assistant to the president," at the highest pay grade, and a guarantee that all Cabinet secretaries who have anything to do with immigration policy defer to him, the Times reports. Kobach also wanted Trump's promise he will nominate him for Homeland Security secretary by Nov. 1, unless Kobach asks to remain immigration czar.
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Kobach, who lost the Kansas governor's race last year, was appointed by Trump to lead a voter fraud commission launched after Trump baselessly claimed millions of illegal votes were cast in the 2016 election. The committee was dissolved last year.
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