Under Fire, President Obama’s Pick for Army Job Bows Out
EmailLate on Friday, Donald Remy withdrew his name as President Obama's nominee to be General Counsel of the Army after coming under fire for not disclosing in a work history for the Senate Armed Services Committee that he worked for embattled mortgage giant Fannie Mae.
"Regretfully, I have decided to remove my name from consideration for this position," Remy wrote to President Obama. "It was an honor to be nominated by you and I extend my good wishes to you, your administration and all of the exceptional men and women of the United States Armed Forces and their families."
Earlier this week Remy met privately with some members of the Senate Armed Services Committee about their concerns that he had not been fully forthcoming in revealing that he had been a senior official at Fannie Mae. Remy, who worked for Fannie Mae from 2000 through 2006, instead characterized his former employer in a document given to the committee as a "'major U.S. company," though he listed the names of other employers.
Two Republicans on the committee, Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Mel Martinez of Florida, expressed concerns about what Martinez described as Remy's "lack of candor," and said they wanted to know more about Remy's responsibilities at Fannie Mae, which in 2006 disclosed billions of dollars in accounting errors.
"The President believes that Donald Remy would have been an excellent General Counsel of the Army," said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor, "but understands his personal decision and the choice he has made. Donald has given to the nation many times and continues to demonstrate his duty to country above all things."
An administration source pointed out that Remy fully disclosed his tenure at Fannie Mae in other documents provided to the committee, including his Senate Armed Services Committee Questionnaire, his National Security Questionnaire and his Public Financial Disclosure Report.
Prior to his time at Fannie Mae, Remy served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Justice Department. He is currently a partner at the law firm Latham & Watkins LLP.
- jpt
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
Romney Takes Aim at Conservatives
I’m starting to get the idea that everyone involved in our government is corrupt.
When is Congress going to investigate itself for all the corruption and improprieties with regards its members and Freddie and Fannie?
Speaking of Dodd, his Irish house is rapidly appreciating in value as we speak.
Posted by: WhereWasThePress? | June 13, 2009, 11:49 am 11:49 am
Mr. Obama’s bad judgements are almost as consistent as his lies.
Posted by: young_voter | June 13, 2009, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
I think there are as many who withdrew as there are czars!
Posted by: John | June 13, 2009, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
This has to be Bush’s fault. Or Cheney’s. Or Gingrich’s. Or possibly even Bristol Palin’s. Couldn’t possibly be Obama’s! He’s intelligent and just trying to undo the mess of the last eight years! Whaaaa!
How many scandals are we up to now? I lost count his first month in office.
Posted by: Jenn | June 13, 2009, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
Isn’t it amusing when any politician has the audacity to questions another person’s ‘lack of candor’ .. who do they think they are fooling?
The public is numb to this kind of thing, just put someone in the office that will do a halfway decent job, and get on with it… both sides are just constantly playing this useless game of back and forth.. it’s of no value…..
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | June 13, 2009, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm
Obama administration defends in court DOMA.
Obama appoints a woman to Department of Health and Human Services that doesn’t believe in abortion or contraception, even for married couples.
Obama defends torture in court.
It feels like Bush three.
Posted by: 3rd party | June 13, 2009, 6:00 pm 6:00 pm
I think anyone can be suited for a position, but it is not their education that comes into mind, but experience, is he experience to do this?
by the way, I would like to comment on all the information that is being mishandled.
I believe this is a security risk to OUR NATION. First, the government ‘accidentally’ posts the nuclear fuel storage areas, and now, an email about the President’s day schedule was ‘accidentally’ emailed to the wrong person…..People, this is the security of our nation, the future of children, and of the world are at stake, it is not some Sophomore’s grade being accidentally said to another student, it is high security information that is being released. What if next time, something is “accidentally” released to Al-Queda, or another security risk. Next it might be information about North Korea being sent to Joe the Plumber, or someone else. This is a security risk, and so is shutting down GITMO. Do YOU really want dangerous terrorists on YOUR property? And don’t even say, oh they’ll be processed somewhere else, because that somewhere else CAN and WILL effect YOU. The shutting down of GITMO IS ANOTHER SECURITY RISK TO THIS NATION. It may not be Obama’s fault, but he Needs to be on top of his game. Just like the fly over above NYC, How could he not realize they would be doing that? There are only 2 Air Force One Jets. HE Should have known, and if not, he shouldn’t be fit to be president. Before with bush, he may not have been the best, but at least he wasn’t harming the security of our nation. This isn’t one of those political tactics to scare you, and have you vote them. Think about it…..It IS a danger. Both You, and I face, and it should not have to be like this.
Posted by: IsAmericaSafe? | June 13, 2009, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Also, in addition, Why have we yet to act about North Korea’s actions? They are developing weapons. As FDR said, “Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.” …As well, “We sit here building refrigerators, while our enemies build bombs.” The same goes with America today. But this time, it is neither Japan, or Germany, it is North Korea. It is time we, we as Proud Americans, we take action. We should not be pushed around by a country the size of Iowa. It may be a long time, but this would be better won, then staying in a country that is feeding itself again (Iraq).
Thank You For reading, my concerns are yours, but I will not be presumptuous, but I will say, if this isn’t a concern of every American, or European, or Any Human on Earth, then there is something wrong with us.
Posted by: IsAmericaSafe? | June 13, 2009, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
The nominees have forgotten that they have to be questioned by Congress or will be questioned by Congress when they accept these postions. They are caught up in the moment and don’t realize that they may have to give up facts that they did wrong or facts that may pertain to National Security. So most will bow out and say “No Thanks”.
Posted by: d | June 13, 2009, 9:04 pm 9:04 pm