Michael Caputo
Person·government·AI Enriched
Relationships:1
Events:31
Library:3
Confidence:
94%
Key Facts
Type
Person
Sector
government
Industry
Not specified
Status
Draft
Country
United States
Nationality
United States
Birth Date
3/24/1962
Death Date
Not specified
Sex
Male
Email
michael.caputo@gmail.com
Phone
+15614524565
Also Known As
No alternate names
Tags
political strategistlobbyistRepublicanU.S. Army veteran
Overall Confidence
94%
Internal Notes
No notes
Career & Education
Positions
Director of Media Services
George H. W. Bush 1992 presidential campaign
1992 - 1992
President
The Florence Group
1994 - 1999
Contractor
Gazprom-Media
2000 - 2000
Founder and President
Michael Caputo Public Relations
2000
Campaign Manager
Carl Paladino 2010 New York gubernatorial campaign
2010 - 2010
Senior Adviser, Communications for New York
Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign
2015 - 2016
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
2020 - 2021
Education
BA
University at Buffalo, State University of New York
1983
J.D.
University of Pennsylvania
Law
- 2013
About
Michael Raymon Caputo is an American political strategist, lobbyist, and Republican political operative with extensive experience in U.S. and international campaigns. A longtime associate and protégé of Roger Stone, whom he served as a personal driver early in his career, Caputo has been involved in high-profile Republican efforts, including as former Trump campaign communications director, and faced scrutiny over Russia ties in connection with 2016 election activities.
Early Life and Military Service
- Born and raised in Buffalo, New York.
- Enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school, serving in the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii where he worked in early public relations.
Education
See dedicated education field.
Early Career
- Worked for the Reagan Administration alongside Oliver North on propaganda efforts supporting the president's agenda in Central and South America.
- Assistant director of the House of Representatives Gallery for the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association.
- Employed by Republican politicians including Congressman Jack Kemp.
- Director of media services for George H. W. Bush's 1992 presidential campaign.
International Work
- Moved to Moscow, Russia in 1994 post-Soviet dissolution; business partner with Sergey Petrushin since ~1997.
- President of The Florence Group (1994–1999); pivotal in Boris Yeltsin's 1995 reelection as USAID adviser.
- Gazprom-Media employee (2000); contracted to improve Vladimir Putin's U.S. public image.
- Advised a candidate's campaign in the 2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election; met second wife Maryna Ponomarenko in Kyiv.
U.S. Political and Business Career
- Founded Michael Caputo Public Relations after returning to U.S. late 2000; offices in East Aurora, NY (2016), Miami Beach, FL, and Moscow.
- Campaign manager for Carl Paladino's unsuccessful 2010 New York gubernatorial bid.
- WBEN AM radio commentator during 2016 New York Republican primary.
- Senior adviser, Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign (Nov 2015–Jun 2016): managed New York communications; departed after supporting Corey Lewandowski's removal.
- Adviser on Trump's 2014 Buffalo Bills stalking-horse bid: founded 'Bills Fan Thunder'; ran smear campaigns against rivals.
Trump Administration
- Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2020-04-16 to 2021-01-20).
- Appointed Dr. Paul Alexander as scientific adviser; involved in $300M 'Defeat Despair' COVID ad campaign.
Controversies and Investigations
- 2017 Russia Probe: Interviewed voluntarily by House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (2017-05-09) re: Russian interference in 2016 election, Trump campaign role, prior Russia work; met Roger Stone and Henry Greenberg (Sergey Petrushin) May 2016 discussing Hillary Clinton info; denied Russia ties; liquidated children's college funds for legal fees.
- HHS Tenure (2020): Sought to suppress/edit CDC reports (e.g., hydroxychloroquine, MMWR) for political content; accused CDC scientists of sedition/resistance unit.
- Facebook Rant (2020-09-14): Posted video alleging 'hit squads' training against Trump, urged buying ammo, threatened death; apologized next day, took medical leave.
- Sexist, crude tweets (2019–2020); racist tweets about Chinese (early 2020, deleted).
- 2014 Bills bid: smear campaigns post-Trump disqualification.
- Attributed Trump leaks to 'silent coup' (2017).
Personal Life
- First marriage (1990s Russia) to Russian astrophysics student; ended in divorce.
- Second wife: Maryna Ponomarenko (Ukrainian, met 2007).
- Father of children (names undisclosed).
- Converted to Catholicism (2000).
- Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (throat, spread to neck/head; 2020-09-24); two-month medical leave from HHS (2020-09-15).
- Social media: X/Twitter @MichaelRCaputo; website aboutmichaelcaputo.com.
Key Relationships
Roger Stone
intermediary
Caputo arranged and attended Stone's May 2016 meeting with Russian Henry Oknyansky offering Clinton dirt; both later admitted forgetting to disclose it to congressional investigators.
Since 2016
Recent Events
Ended HHS tenure
Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2020-04-16 to 2021-01-20)
1/20/2021
Resided in Florida
Relocation
1/1/2021
Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma
Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma (throat, spread to neck/head)
9/24/2020
Took medical leave from HHS
Took medical leave from HHS after Facebook rant
9/15/2020
Posted controversial Facebook video
Posted video alleging 'hit squads' training against Trump, urged buying ammo, threatened death; apologized next day
9/14/2020