NEA Communications Chief Resigns

The controversial communications chief for the National Endowment of the Arts resigned Thursday after drawing fire from Republican senators for recruiting artists to create works that promoted President Barack Obama's policies, The Washington Post reported.

Yosi Sergant, who specialized in public relations in Los Angeles before coming to Washington, gained fame for his work during the presidential campaign with artist Shepard Farley and his HOPE poster of then-candidate Barack Obama. Sergant worked in the White House in the Office of Public Engagement before moving to the NEA in May, the Post reported.

Sergant came under fire from Fox News Channel commentator Glenn Beck, who accused Sergant of arranging two conference calls in August with United We Serve, which promotes the president's call for public service. The purpose of the meeting, Beck said, was to find artists who would create works that promoted Obama's policies.

Watch Katie Couric's exclusive interview with Glenn Beck.

Sergant's resignation came the day after 10 senators sent a letter to NEA chairman Rocco Landesmann seeking his assurance that taxpayer dollars had not been used in the August meetings and would not be used to promote Mr. Obama's health care policies, the Post reported.

The White House referred calls to the NEA. Calls to the NEA after business hours Thursday were not returned. No one answered at a Los Angeles phone number listed to Sergant.