10.08.2005
Deputy Attorney General Choice Withdraws Nomination (WashingtonPost.com)
Ties to Indicted GOP Lobbyist Delayed Candidate's Consideration
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 7, 2005; 3:39 PM
The Bush administration's choice to be deputy attorney general has withdrawn his nomination, which had been delayed amid questions over his dealings with indicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, officials said today.
Timothy E. Flanigan wrote in a letter to President Bush yesterday that he was withdrawing as a candidate because of "uncertainty concerning the timing of my confirmation."
"You and the attorney general deserve to have a full leadership team in place at the Department of Justice to assist the dedicated men and women of the Department in their critical work," Flanigan wrote.
The withdrawal marks the latest in a series of setbacks for the White House on nomination issues, as several high-profile nominees have come under criticism for an alleged lack of experience or other problems.
Flanigan, a former deputy White House counsel who has served as general counsel at Tyco International Ltd. since 2002, was first nominated in May but his appointment has been held up because of a variety of objections. The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on his nomination last month after Democrats demanded answers to questions about Flanigan's supervision of Abramoff as an outside lobbyist for Tyco.
(More ... Deputy Attorney General Choice Withdraws Nomination) ¶ 12:24
By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 7, 2005; 3:39 PM
The Bush administration's choice to be deputy attorney general has withdrawn his nomination, which had been delayed amid questions over his dealings with indicted Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, officials said today.
Timothy E. Flanigan wrote in a letter to President Bush yesterday that he was withdrawing as a candidate because of "uncertainty concerning the timing of my confirmation."
"You and the attorney general deserve to have a full leadership team in place at the Department of Justice to assist the dedicated men and women of the Department in their critical work," Flanigan wrote.
The withdrawal marks the latest in a series of setbacks for the White House on nomination issues, as several high-profile nominees have come under criticism for an alleged lack of experience or other problems.
Flanigan, a former deputy White House counsel who has served as general counsel at Tyco International Ltd. since 2002, was first nominated in May but his appointment has been held up because of a variety of objections. The Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on his nomination last month after Democrats demanded answers to questions about Flanigan's supervision of Abramoff as an outside lobbyist for Tyco.
(More ... Deputy Attorney General Choice Withdraws Nomination) ¶ 12:24
