Mnuchin loses two Treasury advisers

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is on the verge of losing two of his most trusted staff, as Democrats in the House are putting pressure on his department to release President Donald's tax returns Trump.

Eli Miller, head of Treasury staff and former Trump campaigner, will leave the department next week, according to an email sent to all staff Friday afternoon. According to Treasury observers, Miller is expected to join the private sector.

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In a statement, Mnuchin called Miller an instrumental leader "who has always been by my side, and it will be very difficult to replace."

Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tony Sayegh also plans to step down by the end of May and will meet with the candidates to replace him as the agency's senior communications officer.

Among them is Monica Crowley, a Fox News commentator who was seen in the building on Thursday afternoon. Prior to Trump's inauguration, Crowley had been hired for a senior position at the National Security Council, but withdrew from the discussion after reports of cases of plagiarism were published.

Miller has served as a trusted aide to Mnuchin, always accompanying him to high-level meetings and briefings, serving as a relay for lobbyists and corporate groups. Inside the Treasury building, the staff considered him more interested in maintaining close relations with the boss than in building management, the political process, or career professionals.

Prior to joining Treasury, Miller worked as Chief Financial Officer for the Trump Campaign, where he worked alongside Mnuchin. Earlier in his career, he was assistant to John Boehner when he was Speaker of the House and the Americans for Prosperity group, supported by the Koch brothers.

Sayegh, also a close ally of Mnuchin, worked closely with the White House to promote the GOP's comprehensive reform legislation in 2017.

Departures come as the Treasury is under increasing pressure from Congressional Democrats who want increased oversight of the department and asked Wednesday for six years of the president's tax returns.