Donald Trump's pick for labour secretary withdraws from nomination

US President Donald Trump’s pick for labour secretary, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his nomination for consideration in the new Cabinet on Wednesday amid concerns that he could not garner enough Senate votes to be confirmed.

“I am withdrawing my nomination for Secretary of Labour,”  Puzder announced via Twitter late Wednesday afternoon. “I’m honoured to have been considered and am grateful to all who have supported me.”

The withdrawal signifies the first casualty of the Trump administration’s Cabinet picks, as the Senate was expected to confirm Puzder later in the week. 

I am withdrawing my nomination for Secretary of Labor. I'm honored to have been considered and am grateful to all who have supported me.

— Andy Puzder (@AndyPuzder) February 15, 2017

Still recovering from the abrupt resignation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn, the White House is now tasked with replacing the controversial Labour Department candidate.

Puzder, a fast food chain CEO, has been at the centre of a swirl of controversies, complaints and potential conflicts.

He admitted earlier this month that he and his wife had employed an undocumented person as a housekeeper. He also faced a flurry of complaints and legal cases brought in recent weeks and months by workers against his business and its franchises, putting forward allegations of mistreating his workers, several of whom testified against him last month before the Senate.

Puzder's withdrawal came one day before his scheduled confirmation hearing, which had been delayed five times as he failed to submit the appropriate ethics and financial paperwork.

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.