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WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the embattled Drug Enforcement Administration has announced her retirement.
Word of the retirement of Michele Leonhart came late today in a statement from Attorney General Eric Holder.
Leonhart had faced mounting pressure to resign from members of Congress who questioned her competence in the wake of a scathing government watchdog report. It detailed allegations that agents attended sex parties with prostitutes.
Holder said Leonhart, a career drug agent who has led the agency since 2007, will leave the agency in mid-May. His statement praised her service and noted that she helped dismantle violent drug trafficking organizations.
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236-a-10-(Robert Bonner, former administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration, in remarks)-"the excuse though"-Former DEA chief Robert Bonner says the reason Michele Leonhart came under pressure as head of the DEA wasn't really because of "two old misconduct cases." (Bonner was speaking before Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement saying Michele Leonhart has announced her retirement from the Drug Enforcement Administration) (21 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *236 (04/21/15)££ 00:10 "the excuse though"
237-a-13-(Robert Bonner, former administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration, in remarks)-"than is warranted"-Former DEA chief Robert Bonner says the departure of Michele Leonhart would be a blow to the DEA. (Bonner was speaking before Attorney General Eric Holder released a statement saying Michele Leonhart has announced her retirement from the Drug Enforcement Administration) (21 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *237 (04/21/15)££ 00:13 "than is warranted"
224-a-14-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference)-"some DEA officers"-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the Inspector General's report alleging Drug Enforcement Administration agents engaging in sex parties is troubling. (21 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *224 (04/21/15)££ 00:14 "some DEA officers"
225-a-11-(Josh Earnest, White House press secretary, at news conference)-"about that conduct"-White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the Inspector General has raised serious questions about how some DEA agents have behaved. (21 Apr 2015)
<<CUT *225 (04/21/15)££ 00:11 "about that conduct"
APPHOTO WX106: FILE - In this April 12, 2013 file photo, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Michele Leonhart testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. An Obama administration official says the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration is expected to resign soon. Leonhart is a career drug agent who has led the agency since 2007 and is the second woman to hold the job. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) (12 Apr 2013)
<<APPHOTO WX106 (04/12/13)££
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