Southers Withdraws Nomination to Head TSA

January 21, 2010 — Erroll Southers, President Obama’s choice to head the Transportation Security Administration, has withdrawn his nomination. President Obama submitted Southers’ name last fall and after preliminary work was done by two Senate committees, the process stalled when Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) placed a hold on his nomination over union concerns.

DeMint was originally concerned that Southers might allow TSA employees to unionize. During the committee review process Southers disclosed that he was censured while working for the FBI for improperly using agency resources to investigate an acquaintance of a former love interest. In a written statement to the committee, Southers acknowleged that his actions were wrong and he had learned from it.

The recent failed attack on a U.S. bound airliner had increased pressure on the Senate to move forward with the nomination, but DeMint refused to budge on his hold, citing the censure as a reason for further scrutiny of Southers.