Obama nominee pulls out

WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- The former deputy director of counter-terrorism at the CIA backed out Friday as nominee to a post at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Philip Mudd released a statement saying he does not want to become a "distraction" to President Barack Obama, the Los Angeles Times reported. Obama named Mudd to be head of intelligence in the Department of Homeland Security but some in Congress criticized the appointment because of questions about the part Mudd played in questioning terrorism suspects.

From 2002 to 2005, Mudd was with the CIA counter-terrorism center. The unit grew after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Since 2005, he has been assistant chief of national security at the FBI. A spokesman said he will remain in that post.

"Phil Mudd did his job to help keep this nation safe in the years after 9/11 and today he is unfairly paying a political price," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich., the senior Republican on the Intelligence Committee.