Kathleen Sgamma’s sudden withdrawal on the morning of her confirmation hearing for Bureau of Land Management director left Republican senators who were widely backing her nomination scratching their heads.
Sgamma did not give a reason for her withdrawal in a post on LinkedIn on Thursday afternoon, writing, “I remain a passionate advocate for our public lands and was honored to be nominated by President Trump.” She added that she remained “committed to President Trump and his unleashing American energy agenda and ensuring multiple-use access for all.”
Sgamma was president of the Denver-based Western Energy Alliance, a trade association that backs fossil fuel development on public lands. She was in Washington for her confirmation hearing Thursday when Energy and Natural Resources Chair Mike Lee (R-Utah) announced she had withdrawn.
The stunning news came just two days after a report revealed Sgamma had written a memo to Western Energy Alliance members in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. In that memo, revealed by the watchdog group Documented, she wrote she had been “disgusted” that President Donald Trump was “spreading misinformation” about the 2020 election. It’s unclear if her withdrawal is related to the note.
