WASHINGTON _ Just days after interviewing to become the next FBI director, Texas Sen. John Cornyn has removed himself from consideration, his office announced Tuesday.
"Now more than ever the country needs a well-credentialed, independent FBI director," Cornyn said in a statement. "I've informed the administration that I'm committed to helping them find such an individual, and that the best way I can serve is continuing to fight for a conservative agenda in the U.S. Senate."
Cornyn, the Senate's No. 2 leader, was one of several people said to be considered to replace ousted director James Comey. The former Texas attorney general, who also served on the Texas Supreme Court, met with Attorney General Jeff Sessions last weekend about the role.
But he faced concerns from even within his own party about the wisdom of tapping a partisan to lead the FBI amid investigations into whether President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Russian counterparts to influence the 2016 election.
Over the weekend, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said that while Cornyn would typically be a "superb choice" to lead the agency under normal circumstances, "these are not normal circumstances."
And in a curious development, he lacked the support of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is pushing for Judge Merrick Garland to replace Comey.
McConnell and Cornyn led the opposition to Garland's Supreme Court nomination this year, but McConnell now says the U.S. Court of Appeals judge is ideal for the FBI role.
Democrats aren't likely to support the idea, however, noting that Garland to the FBI opens up a critical lifetime appointment on the Court of Appeals bench.
Kansas Republican Sen. Pat Roberts praised Cornyn's qualifications earlier this week, but on Tuesday, didn't mince words when asked about the news he withdrew from consideration.
"He made a very wise decision, and every Republican breathes a sigh of relief," he told The Dallas Morning News before stepping into an elevator.
Sen. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, said he thought Cornyn "would have been a great choice."
As majority whip, it's Cornyn's role to wrangle votes from Republican colleagues. And Republicans hold a narrow four-seat majority this term, giving them little room for error when it comes to confirmations or passing major legislation.
His announcement comes on a particularly heady day in Washington as lawmakers grapple with the latest news out of the White House.
On Monday, The Washington Post and others reported that Trump disclosed to Russian officials last week highly sensitive intelligence provided by an ally that didn't want it shared with the country.
Cornyn told reporters that the revelation had no bearing on his decision.
Others said to be considered for the FBI job include acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe; FBI Agent Adam Lee; Alice Fisher, a former assistant attorney general who previously led the Justice Department's criminal division; Judge Michael Garcia of the New York State Court of Appeals; and, according to The Wall Street Journal, former federal prosecutor and U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson.
On Monday, South Carolina Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy announced that he, too, removed himself from consideration. It's not immediately clear who remains in contention.
Though Trump has said he could name a new director before he leaves on a trip abroad later this week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said the president won't name an FBI director until the Justice Department provides a list of finalists.
"We're not at that point in the process," he told reporters. The Department of Justice "is still interviewing candidates."
