Chafee Campaign Manager Resigns

Gubernatorial candidate Lincoln Chafee's campaign manager has resigned, according to a release from the campaign Thursday.

John 'J.R.' Pagliarini stepped down after the campaign was made aware that Pagliarini may have received unemployment benefits while on the campaign payroll.

Chafee's campaign says information about the benefits was “illegally leaked” by the Department of Labor and Training, and that Pagliarini decided to step down to avoid being “a distraction” to the campaign.

Chafee is running as an independent candidate for Governor.

Pagliarini chose to resign so as not to be “a distraction” to Chafee's campaign for Governor.

“I am very sorry to hear of this news,” Chafee said. “I respect J.R. very much, and I am certain that after due process is provided to him, the true facts of the situation will become clear.”

ABC6 News will have more on this story as it becomes available.