By Josh Lederman and Zoe Richards -
NBC News
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden's appointee to head U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known by its acronym ICE, announced Monday that he was withdrawing his candidacy after more than a year waiting for the Senate to confirm your nomination.
The nomination of Ed González, the sheriff of Harris County, Texas, was affected by the appearance of past accusations of alleged mistreatment against his wife.
However, González did not clarify in his announcement if his decision to withdraw from the nomination is related to them.
Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez during a news conference in 2018.Nicole Hensley/Houston Chronicle via AP
González, in charge of the largest Texas sheriff's office since 2017, informed the president of his decision in a letter sent on Saturday, June 25.
"I must devote my full attention and energy to fulfilling the duties for which the people of Harris County have elected me," he said in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by NBC News.
González also gave details of his step back in a statement published Monday on the social network Twitter.
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"I came to this decision after prayerfully considering what is best for our nation, my family and the people of Harris County who elected me to serve a second term as sheriff," Gonzalez said.
"I thank President Biden for the honor of nominating me, and I wish this Administration well as it strives to overcome the crippling political deadlock that threatens much more than our nation's border. Frankly, dysfunction threatens the heart and soul of our nation." America. My love for America and my desire to serve in these contentious times is stronger than ever."
The lack of a confirmation vote in more than a year suggests the Senate is unlikely to approve Gonzalez for the job.
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The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee investigated the allegations involving the sheriff's wife, Melissa Gonzalez, and determined there was insufficient evidence to substantiate them.
According to a copy of a report from the committee's Democratic majority, the woman "unequivocally denied filing a domestic violence complaint against Sheriff Gonzalez" during a statement made in March.
However, the Senate did not advance in the confirmation vote.
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A White House spokesman reiterated Monday that Gonzalez "has the necessary qualifications and experience to do this important job and would have made a great ICE leader."
In addition, he criticized the "baseless accusations" made against the sheriff.
The White House has not announced who will be Biden's next nominee to run ICE.
President Biden twice nominated the sheriff: first in 2021 and again in January of this year, when the first nomination expired.
ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration.