Facing mounting criticism and GOP opposition, Andrew Puzder, President Donald Trump's nominee to head the Labor Department, has withdrawn from consideration.
Puzder's personal blog, which touted his labor-employment record, and his goals, was taken down Wednesday afternoon and replaced with this statement:
"After careful consideration and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my nomination for secretary of Labor. I am honored to have been considered by President Donald Trump to lead the Department of Labor and put America's workers and businesses back on a path to sustainable prosperity. I want thank President Trump for his nomination. I also thank my family and my many supporters — employees, businesses, friends and people who have voiced their praise and hopeful optimism for the policies and new thinking I would have brought to America as secretary of Labor. While I won't be serving in the administration, I fully support the President and his highly qualified team."
A source told CBS News Wednesday, a day before Puzder's nomination hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, that Puzder was expected to withdraw because he's "very tired of the abuse."
A day before his nomination hearing, top Senate Republicans had urged the White House to withdraw Puzder as its pick for Labor secretary, a senior GOP source told CNN on Wednesday.
CNN said that the GOP source said there are four firm Republican no votes and possibly up to 12.
Puzder needed at least 50 votes to pass with the tiebreaking vote of Vice President Mike Pence, and Republicans only hold 52 seats.
