Acting U.S. defense chief Patrick Shanahan has decided to withdraw his nomination as Secretary of Defense,... after serving as the Pentagon's acting chief since the turn of the year.
President Trump has named Army Secretary Mark Esper as his replacement.
Kim Hyo-sun reports.
Acting U.S. Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan has stepped down from officially serving as the head of the Pentagon.
President Trump tweeted Tuesday that Shanahan has done a wonderful job, but had decided to spend more time with his family.
Trump named Army Secretary Mark Esper as his new Acting Secretary of Defense,... explaining he'll do a great job.
According to CNN,... Shanahan's decision to withdraw came shortly after the Washington Post published an article describing a violent incident in 2011 during which his son brutally attacked his mother Shanahan's ex-wife with a baseball bat.
In a statement announcing his resignation,... Shanahan explained it was unfortunate that a painful and personal family situation from years ago had resurfaced.
He added he would welcome becoming the Secretary of Defense,... but not at the expense of being a good father.
The post has not been filled permanently since General James Mattis retired in January following policy differences with President Trump.
Shanahan, a former Boeing executive, has been acting defense secretary since January.
He was officially nominated to be the next Pentagon chief in May, but his formal nomination process in the Senate kept being delayed.
Kim Hyo-sun, Arirang News.