Not sure of Senate confirmation, Trump's Labor Department Secretary nominee Puzder withdraws

Washington [United States], Feb.16 (ANI): US President-elect Donald Trump nominee for Labor Department Secretary Andy Puzder has withdrawn himself from consideration. The CEO of CKE Restaurants, Puzder withdrew his name from consideration on Wednesday amid concerns that he could not garner enough Senate votes to be confirmed, media reports here said. Puzder's decision to withdraw comes days after National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned over his close contacts with the Russian establishment. Puzder has reportedly been at the center of a swirl of controversies, complaints and potential conflicts of interests. He admitted earlier this month that he and his wife had employed an undocumented person as a housekeeper. He faced a flurry of complaints and legal cases brought in recent weeks and months by workers against his business and its franchises. Most recently, a decades-old Oprah Winfrey tape raising allegations of domestic abuse by his ex-wife resurfaced, though those allegations had been withdrawn. "After careful consideration and discussions with my family, I am withdrawing my nomination for Secretary of Labor," Puzder said in a statement. At least seven Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, declined to publicly back Puzder in advance of the confirmation hearing. The Labor Department oversees compliance with federal laws that mandate safe working conditions, a minimum hourly wage, overtime wages and prohibit employment discrimination. (ANI)