WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (AFP) - Former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik withdrew his name from consideration to head the massive Homeland Security Department late Friday, citing personal reasons, the White House said.
"Commissioner Kerik informed the White House this evening that he is withdrawing his name for personal reasons from consideration for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"The President respects his decision, and wishes Commissioner Kerik and his wife, Hala, well," he added.
In a letter to President George W. Bush, Kerik wrote: "While I will always consider your confidence in me to be the honor of a lifetime, I am convinced that, for personal reasons, moving forward would not be in the best interests of your administration, the Department of Homeland Security, or the American people.
"I remain firm in my belief that I could have made valuable contributions to the Department and its efforts," Kerik wrote.
"Under the present circumstances, however, I cannot permit matters personal to me to distract from the focus and progress of the Department of Homeland Security and its crucial endeavors."
Kerik was named December 3 by Bush to replace Tom Ridge as head of the department created after the September 11 attacks to protect the country from future strikes.
12/11/2004 03:21 GMT - AFP