U.S. President
Donald Trump's pick for secretary of the Navy withdrew from consideration on
Sunday, the second time a Trump nominee to lead one of the armed
services bowed
out because of government conflict-of-interest rules.
Trump last
month nominated Philip Bilden, a private equity executive and former military
intelligence officer, to lead the Navy, which the president has pledged he will
expand.
In a statement
on Sunday, Bilden said that "after an extensive review process, I have
determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics
requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my
family's private financial interests."
The
development leaves Trump and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis without nominees
to head both the Navy and Army.
Vincent Viola,
whom the president had picked to be secretary of the Army, withdrew earlier
this month.
In a statement,
Mattis said he was disappointed but understood Bilden's decision. "In the
coming days I will make a recommendation to President Trump for a leader who
can guide our Navy and Marine Corps team as we execute the president's vision
to rebuild our military," he said.
REUTERS
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