Text of Bernard Kerik’s letter

Text of Bernard Kerik’s letter to President Bush asking to withdraw as nominee for secretary of the Homeland Security Department, as released by the White House.

Dear Mr. President:

It is with deep regret that I inform you that I cannot continue forward in the confirmation process for the position of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

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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.

Mr. President, as I stated on the day of my nomination, you have been a strong, effective and inspirational leader in the war for freedom and against terror. Under your watch, our nation has taken swift and bold strides against those who threaten our homeland. I remain firm in my belief that I could have made valuable contributions to the department and its efforts. 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.

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For these reasons, I must ask you to withdraw my nomination. I personally apologize to you for not having focused on this earlier.

With respect.

Bernard B. Kerik.