Bryson resigning as U.S. commerce secretary

Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Commerce Secretary John Bryson said today he is resigning from the Obama administration after suffering a seizure earlier this month in the Los Angeles area. President Barack Obama said in a statement that he had accepted the resignation and thanked Bryson for the “invaluable experience and expertise” he brought to the administration. Bryson, a 68-year-old former utility executive, served as a member of Obama’s economic team and has advised him on energy issues. He said in a letter to the president that he was concerned his seizure “could be a distraction” from his performance as secretary and said the nation would be better served by “a change in leadership” at the department. In a letter to Obama, dated Wednesday, Bryson made official his resignation and said it was a “consequence of a recent seizure and a medical leave of absence.” Earlier this month, Bryson transferred his functions and duties as secretary to Deputy Secretary Rebecca Blank, who is now acting commerce secretary.

Thank you for visiting Spokesman.com. To continue reading this story and enjoying our local journalism please subscribe or log in.

You have reached your article limit for this month.

Subscribe now and enjoy unlimited digital access to Spokesman.com

Unlimited Digital Access

Stay connected to Spokane for as little as 99¢!

Subscribe for access

Already a Spokesman-Review subscriber? Activate or Log in

You have reached your article limit for this month.

Subscribe now and enjoy unlimited digital access to Spokesman.com

Unlimited Digital Access

Stay connected to Spokane for as little as 99¢!

Subscribe for access

Already a Spokesman-Review subscriber? Activate or Log in

Oops, it appears there has been a technical problem. To access this content as intended, please try reloading the page or returning at a later time. Already a Spokesman-Review subscriber? Activate or Log in