Energy Secretary Rick Perry has notified the president that he intends to leave his job soon, two administration sources familiar with the matter said.
Perry was traveling with the president to Texas on Thursday when he shared the news aboard Air Force One. Fox News is told he had planned to resign at the end of the year.
However, Perry had come under scrutiny over the role he played in the president’s dealings with Ukraine, which are currently the subject of an impeachment inquiry — raising questions as to whether that timing factored into his decision.
Perry was scheduled to attend an energy conference overseas with U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who testified Thursday in Democrats’ probe.
Multiple administration sources reiterated to Fox News that Perry was central to President Trump and Rudy Giuliani’s foreign policy operation to encourage a Ukrainian investigation into Joe Biden’s dealings in the country. They said Perry was one of a handful of officials working this matter hand-in-glove with Trump and Giuliani.
Perry had disputed reports that he was planning to leave the administration in an interview Wednesday with The Wall Street Journal. But he reportedly left the door open, saying he expected to be at the Energy Department at Thanksgiving, but giving a less definitive answer when asked whether he’d be there through the end of the year.
This is a developing story; check back for updates. Fox News’ Bret Baier and Matt Leach contributed to this report.
