Obama Interior Department appointee resigns amid investigation

An Interior Department official appointed by President Obama to oversee U.S. territories including Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands resigned last week amid an investigation into travel and grants handled by his office.

A spokesman for the Interior Department said Tuesday that the resignation would become effective Feb. 1, and that Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta would be replaced on a temporary basis by Eileen Sobeck, the department's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.

According to Kuam News, the Office of the Inspector General was reviewing Babauta's conduct and interviewing the recipients of grants from his office. The Guam-based media outlet also reported that Babauta had been placed on administrative leave prior to his resignation.

Obama appointed Babauta to the position in 2009, despite the position being filled by a career employee of the Interior Department over the past decade. In Babauta's resignation letter, provided by his attorney, he urges the Obama administration to continue presidential-level appointments to the position.

"That act alone was an important contribution to federal insular policy and relations. This renewed tradition of presidential political appointment should continue," Babauta says.

The departing official does not directly reference the investigation into his handling of the job in his resignation letter, but calls his tenure "a rewarding experience."

"My office has been able to continue our efforts in the islands to improve infrastructure, build professional capacity and respond quickly to any emergencies," he continues.

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