Ex-White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler asks Obama not to nominate her for AG job
Kathryn Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel to President Obama for three years, has taken her name out of the running to replace Attorney General Eric Holder.
The Associated Press and The Blog of Legal Times reported late Friday that Ruemmler has withdrawn her name from consideration to replace Holder. Ruemmler re-joined Latham & Watkins in July after stepping down as Obama’s counsel the previous month, after three years on the job.
The AP says that anonymous sources told its reporters that the President had asked Ruemmler to consider the job, but that she declined because of concerns that her work as counsel could result in a difficult confirmation process in the Senate. The Blog of Legal Times also cited a Washington Post story that linked Ruemmler to the ongoing scandals involving the Secret Service. The Post reported earlier this month that Ruemmler, in her capacity as White House counsel, questioned one of the Secret Service agents connected to the Colombian prostitution scandal.
With Ruemmler out of the picture, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. is the leading candidate, according to Blog of Legal Times. Citing administration sources, the Blog of Legal Times reported that the other leading candidate is Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, a former head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.
