Miers withdraws as Supreme Court nominee

Reuters | October 27 2005

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush's embattled nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, White House counsel Harriet Miers, announced on Thursday she was withdrawing her name from consideration.

In a letter to Bush released by the White House, Miers said she was concerned that the Senate confirmation process "presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interest of the country."

Miers had come under criticism from Democrats and conservative Republicans alike and many conservatives had demanded she withdraw her nomination because she lacked judicial experience.

As a reason for pulling out, Miers cited the need to maintain privacy of internal records of her White House service that members of Congress wanted to see but Bush wanted to keep confidential.