U.S. President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next U.S. ambassador to Iraq has withdrawn his name from consideration.
A U.S. National Security Council spokesman confirmed the decision and praised Brett McGurk as a "skilled diplomat."
Earlier, six Republican senators had appealed to Obama to withdraw the nomination on the grounds that McGurk had insufficient experience and that he had sent inappropriate e-mails to a journalist in 2008.
On June 17, the White House said it would not withdraw McGurk's nomination.
On June 18, however, McGurk sent a letter to Obama in which he made the announcement "with a heavy heart," saying it was in the "best interests of the country" and his family.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had been scheduled to vote on the nomination on June 19.
A U.S. National Security Council spokesman confirmed the decision and praised Brett McGurk as a "skilled diplomat."
Earlier, six Republican senators had appealed to Obama to withdraw the nomination on the grounds that McGurk had insufficient experience and that he had sent inappropriate e-mails to a journalist in 2008.
On June 17, the White House said it would not withdraw McGurk's nomination.
On June 18, however, McGurk sent a letter to Obama in which he made the announcement "with a heavy heart," saying it was in the "best interests of the country" and his family.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had been scheduled to vote on the nomination on June 19.
