Collins (R-Ga.) has not formally announced that Phillips, 36, will be his chief of staff, but three Republican members of Congress from Georgia have told POLITICO that he has been selected for the job.
He participated in a meeting on November 30 that was held exclusively for the Georgia Republican congressional chiefs of staff in an office next to the office of Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.), according to two of those employees. And Phillips interviewed at least one congressional aide for a potential position in Collins’ office, they said.
Phillips was also with Collins for new member orientation last month, one of the people said.
Collins also appointed Phillips as his transition assistant, another Republican congressional staffer familiar with the matter said.
Phillips, a former executive director of the Fulton County Republican Party, has long-standing ties to Collins, the owner of a successful trucking business. In 2014, Phillips worked for Collins in her unsuccessful run against Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.). In the 2008 Republican presidential primary, Phillips served as Mitt Romney’s Georgia state director.
Phillips and Collins did not respond to requests for comment.
Phillips resigned from the Trump campaign in September 2016 after local television station WSB-TV revealed Your previous criminal history. A separate story by WXIA in Atlanta reported that in 2008, he “attacked” a man and slashed his tires, and threw a woman’s laptop. During the incident, Phillips caused “visible bodily harm” and “cuts and bruises to the head and torso” of the male victim. according to Macon Telegraphciting a High Court indictment.
Phillips was arrested on charges of assault and felony criminal mischief. But before the case went to trial, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and assault.
Phillips was sentenced to three years probation, 50 hours of community service, and a $1,567 fine, though his probation ended a year later after being released early.
Later that year, said a woman Phillips pulled a gun on him after opening the door of his Atlanta apartment. according to court documents cited by WSB-TV. He told police that she had done it after hearing a knock on his door. He was arrested a few weeks later on a charge of simple assault and battery.
The charges were dropped after Phillips completed pretrial counseling, according to the Atlanta television station.