Family woes derail Trump defense pick

Patrick Shanahan pulled out of the running Tuesday to become President Trump’s second defense secretary, saying he doesn’t want a “painful and deeply personal family situation” to get dredged up in his confirmation hearings.

Shanahan, who has served as Trump’s since James Mattis stepped down in January, didn’t elaborate, but his announcement comes amid reports his FBI background check has been delayed by allegations of domestic abuse in his family.

“It is unfortunate that a painful and deeply personal family situation from long ago is being dredged up and painted in an incomplete and therefore misleading way in the course of this process,” Shanahan (inset) said. “I believe my continuing in the confirmation process would force my three children to relive a traumatic chapter in our family’s life.”

The statement came after Trump announced Shanahan’s withdrawal.

“Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, who has done a wonderful job, has decided not to go forward with his confirmation process so that he can devote more time to his family,” Trump posted. Trump said he’s tapping Army Secretary Mark Esper to serve as acting defense chief while he restarts his search for a replacement for Mattis, who resigned over policy disagreements with the president.

Court records from their divorce proceedings first reported by The Washington Post on Tuesday reveal Shanahan’s now ex-wife, Kimberley Jordinson, accused him of punching her in the stomach during a late-night argument in 2010. Shanahan denied the accusation and said Jordinson punched him in the face. Officers arrested Jordinson after observing Shanahan had a bloodied nose, records say. Prosecutors eventually dropped the charges. The incident wasn’t the family’s only violent episode. Shanahan’s son assaulted Jordinson with a baseball bat in 2011, records say.