US Energy Secretary Perry tells Trump he plans on resigning

Former Texas governor is under scrutiny for his role in president’s Ukraine dealings, currently being probed in impeachment inquiry

By Jill Colvin and KEVIN FREKING 18 October 2019, 12:53 am

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In this Sept. 6, 2019, file photo, Energy Secretary Rick Perry speaks at the California GOP fall convention in Indian Wells, Calif. Perry pushed Ukraine’s president earlier in 2019 to replace members of a key supervisory board at Naftogaz, a massive state-owned petroleum company. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — US Energy Secretary Rick Perry has notified the president that he intends to leave his job soon.

That’s according to an administration official who confirmed the news on condition of anonymity.

Perry was traveling with the president to Texas Thursday when he shared the news aboard Air Force One.

Perry is under scrutiny over the role he played in the president’s dealings with Ukraine, which are currently the subject of an impeachment inquiry.

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.