Rick Perry Eyes Exit Just As He Gets Roped Into Ukraine Scandal

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry visits "Mornings With Maria" with Anchor Maria Bartiromo at Fox Business Network Studios on September 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochl... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry visits "Mornings With Maria" with Anchor Maria Bartiromo at Fox Business Network Studios on September 24, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Another one bites the dust.

In the wake of Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) sending a letter to Energy Secretary Rick Perry about his U.S.-Ukrainian dealings, a resignation is reportedly in the cards for the Trump administration official who has largely flown under the radar prior to the scandal.

According to reports from Politico and the New York Times late Thursday, Perry is expected to announce his resignation within the next two months. Politico, who first broke the news, reported that three people familiar with his plans said that Perry will resign by the end of November. The Times reported that Perry intends to announce in the coming weeks that he will leave the administration in December, citing two people familiar with his plans.

The unfolding Ukraine scandal was not part of Perry’s calculus to leave the administration, according to Politico.

Politico reported that Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette is expected to replace Perry. The Times reported that Perry would most likely go into the private sector in the energy industry.

The letter Menendez, the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent to Perry Tuesday put a spotlight on Perry’s trip May 2019 trip to Ukraine when he led a U.S. delegation.

Menendez’s letter cited a section of the whistleblower complaint detailing that Perry “made clear” to Ukrainian officials that President Donald Trump was holding back until he could assess how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would act in office.

In the letter, Menendez asked if Perry ever conveyed messages to Zelensky about “corruption” or investigating Trump’s political opponents.

Latest News
70
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. Good Riddance to another Corrupt+Greedy Thugs-R-Us member!

  2. Remember when this jackass could arguably be called the dumbest national figure in the republican party?

    Oh, those were the days.

  3. I’m laughing for three reasons.

  4. HahahahaHH!

    Took me a few seconds, but I definitely got it in less than a minute.

  5. If Rick “Good Hair” Perry* leaves, how will we be able to tell?

    *h/t to Molly Ivins

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

64 more replies

Participants

Avatar for discobot Avatar for epicurus Avatar for kilgoretrout Avatar for mike_in_houston Avatar for greylady Avatar for dickweed Avatar for ronbyers Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for beattycat Avatar for caltg Avatar for formerchild Avatar for castor_troy Avatar for michaelryerson Avatar for corncaucus2008 Avatar for grack Avatar for kelaine Avatar for Mark_CO3 Avatar for davidn Avatar for the_loan_arranger Avatar for dougsanders Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for holywah Avatar for ameliababy Avatar for randome

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: