Greg Craig: Did Gitmo Handling Lead to Resignation?
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Neither the White House statement nor Craig's letter of resignation said a word about why he was leaving.
He has faced criticism in recent months over his efforts to carry out President Obama's order to close the terror suspect detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. It's clear the facility will not be shut down by president's one year deadline on Jan. 22nd.
Privately, White House officials say Gitmo had nothing to do with the resignation. They say Craig remains highly regarded by the president and other top aides and he was not asked to step down less than a year on the job.
"Absolutely not," said a senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, on whether his performance on Guantanamo Bay prompted Craig's resignation. Right from the start, the official said, Craig agreed to serve as White House Counsel with the caveat that he would leave after one year.
But that agreement was closely held – and Craig repeatedly denied any such intention to reporters.
"I have no plans to leave whatsoever," he said last month. "The reports that I'm about to leave are wrong. I have no plans to leave."
A senior official explains that Craig lied so as not to undermine his position or authority.
"The minute you say you're a short-termer, you're a short termer," explained the official.
At the start, we're told, Craig wanted a foreign policy position in the Administration, but Mr. Obama asked him to serve as Counsel instead.
Craig was one of Mr. Obama's earliest supporters in his bid for the presidency. He was a close adviser and helped prepare the candidate for the presidential debates, playing the role of Sen. John McCain in prep sessions with Mr. Obama.
"Because of Greg's leadership, we have confirmed the first Latina justice on the Supreme Court, set the toughest ethics standards for any administration in history, and ensured that we are keeping the nation secure in a manner that is consistent with our laws and our values," said Mr. Obama in a written statement.
He said Craig "has been a huge asset in the White House, and he will be missed."
Craig will return to his private legal practice after the January 3. He'll be replaced in the job of White House Counsel by Mr. Obama's long-time personal attorney, Bob Bauer, whom the president says is known "as a tough and widely respected advocate."
(Pictured above, left to right: White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Craig, David Axelrod, and White House communications director Anita Dunn.)
(CBS)
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