(CNN) The Trump administration will withdraw the controversial nomination of William Perry Pendley to serve as director of the Bureau of Land Management, an administration official familiar tells CNN. In other comments unearthed by CNN's KFile, Pendley has previously cited an anti-Muslim figure to claim Islam was at war with the United States, compared undocumented immigrants to cancer and blamed them for diseases. "Pendley never should have been nominated, and the fact that he was shows you what you need to know about this administration's conservation priorities. He should not be allowed to continue in this role in an acting, unconfirmed capacity," the New Mexico Democrat said in a statement. "It's time for DOI (to) stand up for our public lands and our trust and treaty obligations to Tribes."

Source: CNN August 15, 2020 18:22 UTC