Tillerson resignation rumors 'false,' State Department says

[TomSea]

Tillerson resignation rumors 'false,' State Department says
    By Conor Finnegan
Jul 25, 2017, 5:42 PM ET
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The State Department is pushing back on a new wave of rumors that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is planning on resigning.

“That is false,” spokesperson Heather Nauert said when asked about the rumors at the department's briefing Tuesday. “The secretary has been very clear: He intends to stay here at the State Department. We have a lot of work that is left to be done ahead of us. He recognizes that. He’s deeply engaged in that work.

“He does, however, serve at the pleasure of the president, just as any Cabinet official,” she added, in what could be taken as a nod to the president’s open criticism of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and speculation that he might resign, too.

Tillerson has had some tension with the White House over staffing at the State Department and his independence to make decisions about the nation’s foreign policy agency, senior administration officials told ABC News. But he's also remarked about his commitment to service and the call he heard to take this role.

Continued: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/tillerson-resignation-rumors-false-state-department/story?id=48845592