WASHINGTON (Washington Post) – John Bryson has resigned as commerce secretary, telling President Obama in a letter that the seizure he suffered recently "could be a distraction" to the president's focus on rebuilding the U.S. economy.
In a letter sent late Wednesday to President Obama, Bryson said "This is a critical period for our country's economy. We must each day continue to support the growth of Americ'as businesses, exports and manufacturing and the vitally important jobs they create. I have concluded that the seizure I suffered on June 9th could be a distraction from my performance as Secretary and that our country would be better served by a change in leadership at the Department."
The portfolio of the Secretary of Commerce includes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which includes the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) also known as NOAA Fisheries. Near the time of his confirmation last October, Secretary Bryson accepted an invitation from Senator John Kerry to visit Massachusetts for a fact-finding trip on fisheries. Although planning for that visit was conducted by high-level officials at NOAA, it never happened.
Read the Washington Post story
Read the Secretary's letter of resignation