Hoffa has promoted political operative Todd Thompson to be his Executive Assistant. Thompson replaces Willie Smith, who was removed from the position by Judge Barbara S. Jones for illegally accepting gifts from a Teamster employer.

A former campaign manager of the Hoffa Campaign, Thompson has been a divisive figure at the IBT.

After the 2016 Teamster election, Hoffa closed ranks and concentrated decision-making influence in a small number of outside advisors, including Thompson, who has alienated many officials.

A power struggle between Thompson and Sean O’Brien led to Hoffa removing O’Brien as the Package Division Director.

O’Brien denounced Thompson as “a full-time political hack” and said “Thompson and other staff (non-elected) are driving decisions and making policy in the place of the elected leadership.”

Now, Thompson has been promoted to Executive Assistant to the General President, a position similar to chief of staff.