Upheaval at the RNC

After three days, the Republican National Committee is still unable to explain why its finance director abruptly resigned on Friday.

New RNC Chairman Michael Steele has been on a house-cleaning campaign to fire and replace most of the pre-election staff, including some who have worked at the committee for decades. But sources say Tim Crawford, a relative unknown in political circles who was hired in January as interim finance director, was forced out for other reasons having to do with allegations of impropriety by certain of his colleagues.

Reince Priebus, Steele's transition team chief, confirmed via email that Crawford stepped down Friday but he declined to discuss the reason.

"As a matter of policy, we do not comment on personnel issues," said Priebus, a lawyer in Madison, Wis., who serves as chairman of his state's GOP party.

Acting RNC staff director Blaise Hazelwood, who we're told requested Crawford's resignation, didn't return emails and phone calls seeking comment about the circumstances surrounding Crawford's dismissal. RNC spokesman Alex Conant also declined comment.

Crawford, who also has the distinction of serving as treasurer of Sarah Palin's new political action committee, SarahPac, could not be reached for comment.