Trump Pick For Commerce No. 2 Withdraws

President-elect Donald Trump and Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, shake hands as Ricketts leaves the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President-elect Donald Trump and Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, shake hands as Ricketts leaves the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Carolyn Kaster/AP
President-elect Donald Trump and Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, shake hands as Ricketts leaves the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President-elect Donald Trump and Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, shake hands as Ricketts leaves the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2016. Carolyn Kaster/AP

Trump Pick For Commerce No. 2 Withdraws

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s pick for deputy commerce secretary has withdrawn from consideration.

Todd Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and son of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts, was unable to resolve conflict-of-interest issues in taking the No. 2 job at the department.

Ricketts says in a statement that he is “deeply honored” that Trump nominated him for the post.

During the presidential campaign, Ricketts helped raise at least $66 million for outside groups called Future 45 and 45 Committee — a nod to Trump as the incoming 45th president.

But before helping Trump, Ricketts belonged to a super political action committee that spent more than any other trying to stop Trump from winning the Republican presidential nomination.

Ricketts’ withdrawal was first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.