Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination to become Secretary of Health and Human Services following scrutiny of his failure to pay tens of thousands of dollars in personal taxes. The Obama administration had initially ignored criticism after the disclosure Daschle had avoided paying more than $126,000 in taxes for the use of a friend’s chauffeur and car service. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs announced Daschle’s withdrawal.

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs: “As Senator Daschle said in the statement that we released and told the President on the phone, that he did not want to be a distraction to that agenda. Senator Daschle has served this country for almost three decades with distinction, and I think America can be proud of that service.”

The news came just two hours after Obama’s nominee to be chief White House performance officer, Nancy Killefer, also pulled her name from consideration because of unpaid payroll taxes for a household employee. Later in the day, President Obama took responsibility for the Daschle controversy.

President Obama: “Well, no, I don’t think Washington wins. I mean, look, the fact of the matter is Tom Daschle pulled out today. And I’m here on television saying
I screwed up. And that’s part of the era of responsibility, is not never making mistakes, it’s owning up to them and trying to make sure you don’t repeat them. And that’s what we intend to do.”