Perry to step down on December 1

Energy Secretary Rick Perry will leave the Trump administration on Dec. 1, Department of Energy (DOE) staff confirmed Monday.

Perry, one of the longest-serving Trump Cabinet members, announced last week that he would leave his post by the end of the year, following months of rumors that he would be stepping down. 

{mosads}“While Secretary Perry continues to serve at the pleasure of the president, it is his intent to depart DOE Dec. 1,” an agency spokesperson told The Hill.

Perry’s departure date was first reported by Politico. 

Perry has become a figure in Democrats’ impeachment probe into the president after he allegedly influenced President Trump to take the controversial July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during which Trump requested an investigation into a potential 2020 rival.

A whistleblower’s complaint alleges that Trump withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine to pressure authorities in Kiev to investigate Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden previously served on the board of. 

On Friday, Perry refused to comply with a House subpoena as part of the impeachment inquiry. 

Perry has said his departure is not tied to his discussions with Ukrainian leaders, and Trump has already said DOE Department Secretary Dan Brouillette will fill the post, though he hasn’t yet been formally nominated. 

“It has absolutely nothing to do with Ukraine,” Perry told Fox News of his departure, adding he was eager to get back to Texas and “the next adventure in life.”