More trouble with the Trump admin, or is this fake news? Politico says another Trump nomination is going bust.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for Navy secretary, investor Philip Bilden, is expected to withdraw from consideration, sources familiar with the decision told POLITICO, becoming the second Pentagon pick unable to untangle their financial investments in the vetting process.
Bilden’s withdrawal could come as early as today, the sources said.
Bilden, who built his career in Hong Kong with the investment firm HarbourVest, was a surprise pick for the Navy post but had had been Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ preferred candidate.
Yet like billionaire investment banker Vincent Viola, who withdraw his nomination to be secretary of the Army earlier this month, Bilden ran into too many challenges during a review by the Office of Government Ethics to avoid potential conflicts of interest, the sources said.
USNI News is reporting that he has already dropped out:
Financier Philip Bilden has withdrawn himself from consideration to be the next Secretary of the Navy, several sources confirmed to USNI News on Sunday.
Sources in the White House and the Navy told USNI News that Bilden’s extensive financial holdings, much of which he earned while living in Hong Kong, would likely not meet the Office of Government Ethics standards to serve in the position.
The White House is scheduled to make the announcement this evening.
Bilden was formally nominated as Navy Secretary on Jan. 25 after back-and-forth reports in the media as to whether he or former congressman Randy Forbes would get the job. The White House called Bilden “a highly successful business leader, former Military Intelligence officer, and Naval War College cybersecurity leader [who] will bring strategic leadership, investment discipline, and Asia Pacific regional and cyber expertise to the Department of the Navy” in its statement announcing Bilden’s selection.
But this has been reported before and denied:
News: Am told by two people familiar with the matter that Navy Secretary nominee Philip Bilden is likely to withdraw – cld b this weekend.
— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) February 18, 2017
Those people would be wrong. Just spoke with him and he is 100% commited to being the next SECNAV pending Senate confirm. https://t.co/AfRZfQQCzG
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) February 18, 2017
People are not retweeting that in mockery…
Nope. Fake news. I just confirmed it. He is 100% committed. He is going to be the next Navy Secretary. https://t.co/zNBWgNniqp
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 18, 2017
You know, one week feels like two weeks these days. First reported Bilden as NAVSEC was likely to withdraw one week ago. He has. Was right.
— Major Garrett (@MajorCBS) February 26, 2017
So I dunno… I guess we’ll see.