Report: Daschle Out as HHS Nominee

Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) has withdrawn his name from consideration for Health and Human Services secretary, MSNBC is reporting.

Daschle has faced controversy in recent days after the revelation that he failed to pay over $100,000 taxes on a car and driver provided by a wealthy friend and business partner. Daschle paid just over $140,000 in back taxes and interest while being considered for the Cabinet post, according to a Senate Finance Committee report.

Daschle formally apologized for the error yesterday to the committee, before which he would have appeared for confirmations hearings.

The former Senate majority leader had been considered a slam dunk when President Obama announced him as his pick to lead the deparment.