White House Counsel Miers Resigns From Her Post

WASHINGTON — Harriet Miers, President Bush's failed Supreme Court nominee, has submitted her resignation as White House counsel, the White House announced yesterday.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said Mr. Bush reluctantly accepted her resignation, which takes effect January 31. He said a search for a successor is under way.

Mr. Bush nominated Ms. Miers in October 2005 to replace retiring Justice O'Connor, but she dropped out under fire from conservatives who questioned her qualifications and would not support her.

Asked why she was leaving, Mr. Snow said: "Basically, she has been here six years."

Mr. Snow said Ms. Miers's departure did not signal the beginning of an exodus of senior officials after six bruising years at the White House. Asked if other officials were poised to go, Mr. Snow said, "I'm aware of none and anticipate none."

He said Miers, a loyal adviser to the president for years, has been having conversations with white House chief of staff Joshua Bolten about leaving for some time, and both of them agreed that it was time for a change at the White House office of legal counsel.