Kurt Volker, the former State Department special envoy to Ukraine who is at the center of impeachment furor, stepped down as executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, citing recent media scrutiny.
Volker said in a statement that he informed the research group’s leadership Monday he would not be continuing in the role given “the recent media focus on my work as the U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations risks becoming a distraction from the accomplishments and continued growth of the Institute.”
His resignation follows revelations that President Trump urged Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.
Reports last week said the group’s leadership had pressured Volker to step down after text messages showed he was more involved in the Ukraine scandal than he led on.
Volker told congressional investigators last week that he was not aware of the president’s efforts to convince Ukraine to investigate his political rival. Volker also said he was not on the call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that led House Democrats to launch an impeachment inquiry.
On Thursday, House Democrats released text messages that showed Volker telling top Zelensky adviser Andriy Yermak that a Zelensky visit to Washington was conditional. The message was sent the morning of the July 25 conversation between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart.
“Good lunch — thanks. Heard from White House — assuming President Z convinces Trump he will investigate / ‘get to the bottom of what happened’ in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington. Good luck! See you tomorrow — Kurt,” Volker wrote.
Cindy McCain thanked Volker for his work with the institute.
“I especially appreciate his dedication to my husband and the entire McCain family,” she said in a statement, adding that Nick Rasmussen would serve as acting executive director pending the selection of Volker’s permanent replacement.
