Did Special Counsel Robert Mueller just collect another scalp?
The AP is reporting that an official linked to the Trump campaign who was being considered for a federal post has now withdrawn his nomination.
BREAKING: Former Trump campaign official linked to Mueller's Russia investigation withdraws nomination for agriculture post
— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) November 2, 2017
This nominee turned out to be Sam Clovis, President Trump’s nominee to be the chief scientist at the Agricultural Department.
Sam Clovis withdrawing from Agriculture Department nomination to spend more time with Justice Department. https://t.co/QUVPqdRuwj
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) November 2, 2017
It’s unclear right now what exact role Clovis has in the Mueller probe. Clovis wrote in a letter to the Administration: “The political climate inside Washington has made it impossible for me to receive balanced and fair consideration for this position. The relentless assaults on you and your team seem to be a blood sport that only increases in intensity each day. As I am focused on your success and the success of this administration, I do not want to be a distraction or negative influence, particularly with so much important work left to do for the American people.”
At this time, Clovis still remains an advisor to the Department of Agriculture. Clovis was outed earlier this week for being linked in emails to George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign foreign policy advisor who admitted to making false assertions to the FBI.
There is speculation that Clovis didn’t withdraw from consideration because of the Mueller probe, but rather because he lacks the credentials for the job. The Washington Post revealed early this morning that Clovis has no hard science credentials to justify his role as “chief scientist”: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientist nominee, Sam Clovis, who now serves as the agency’s senior White House adviser, confirmed in an Oct. 17 letter obtained by The Washington Post that he has no academic credentials in either science or agriculture.”
So, the Post breaks a story of Clovis lacking the expertise to be in a science-heavy role, but his withdraw is being blamed on the Mueller probe? Seems fishy.
Regardless, it’s clear that the media is hell bent on disrupting this Administration and making it impossible for President Trump to govern as an effective leader. At the same time, I don’t blame Clovis for stepping out of the spotlight. The Mueller investigation is just starting to heat up, and the former FBI head appears to be out for blood.
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