Chuck Cooper, reportedly a finalist to be the solicitor general, removed his name from consideration on Thursday, Politico reported.
Cooper, who helped Attorney General Jeff Sessions prepare for his confirmation hearings, said he was removing his name from consideration because he didn’t want to subject his family to any scrutiny.
“I am deeply honored by any consideration that I may have received by Attorney General Sessions and President Trump for appointment as the Solicitor General, but I have asked them to discontinue any further consideration of me for that critically important position,” he said in a statement. “After witnessing the treatment that my friend Jeff Sessions, a decent and honorable man who bears only good will and good cheer to everyone he meets, had to endure at the hands of a partisan opposition that will say anything and do anything to advance their political interests, I am unwilling to subject myself, my family, and my friends to such a process.”
The solicitor general is responsible for arguing on behalf of the U.S. government at the Supreme Court. Whoever does get the job will likely have the task of making the case at the high court for Trump’s executive order temporarily banning refugee resettlement and travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.
George Conway, husband of Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway, is also reportedly under consideration for the job.
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