MIAMI _ Vincent Viola, owner of the Florida Panthers National Hockey League team, withdrew his nomination as U.S. Secretary of the Army, saying extricating himself from his extensive business ties has "proven insurmountable.''
"I am deeply honored to have been considered for this post, and appreciate the confidence President Trump showed in me," Viola said in a statement Friday. "I offer my continued support for President Trump and his administration, and look forward to redoubling my efforts to support the Army and its veterans as a private citizen."
Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell confirmed the reports.
Viola is the first Trump nominee to withdraw. The Senate would have had to confirm him as Secretary of the Army.
The Wall Street billionaire has a majority interest in Eastern Air Lines, a Miami-based airline that was recently resurrected as a charter company. The New York Times reported Thursday that Viola was trying to swap his Eastern ownership for a stake in Swift Air, a charter airline that has secured millions of dollars in federal government sub-contracts. Some of those contracts involve deporting undocumented immigrants, the Times reported.
Besides Viola's ownership in Eastern and the Panthers, he is the founder of the trading firm Virtu Financial. CEO Doug Cifu, who co-owns the firm, was supposed to take over after Viola's confirmation as Army secretary.
Viola planned to transfer ownership of the Panthers to his family.
The Eastern Airlines plane the Panthers used to travel was repurposed for Vice President Mike Pence's campaign. An August Trump rally was held at the Panthers' home arena.
