Former Sen. Joe Lieberman withdrew from consideration for director of the FBI Thursday, according to a report.
Lieberman, formerly a senator from Connecticut, notified President Trump of his decision in a letter sent Thursday. He wrote he wanted to avoid “any appearance of a conflict of interest,” the Wall Street Journal reported.
Lieberman works at the same law firm as Marc Kasowitz, whom Trump hired this week to join a team of lawyers representing him in the investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election.
“I do believe it would be best to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest, given my role as a senior counsel in the law firm of which Marc is the senior counsel,” Lieberman wrote in his letter to Trump.
The White House began searching for a new FBI director this month after Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey.
Lieberman emerged as the front-runner last week. But, it was reported yesterday Trump has since asked White House officials to broaden the range of candidates to replace Comey, effectively resetting the search.
Lieberman’s candidacy sparked concern among some Democrats, who urged Trump to steer clear of selecting a politician for FBI director. Republicans said he would’ve been a decent pick.
The former Connecticut senator, a former Democratic vice presidential candidate, left the Democratic party in 2006 and ran as an independent.
