Investor Carl Icahn steps down as adviser to President Trump
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn ended his role as a special adviser to US President Donald Trump on Friday after facing criticism that policy recommendations he offered could help his own investments.
Some Democratic lawmakers and biofuels advocates argued that Icahn's guidance to the Republican administration created a conflict of interest with his businesses, including oil refining company CVR Energy Inc. Icahn has denied any conflict of interest.
Icahn's departure followed a flurry of changes at the White House. Trump on Friday fired his chief strategist, Stephen Bannon, two days after disbanding two high-profile business advisory groups.
"I chose to end this arrangement (with your blessing) because I did not want partisan bickering about my role to in any way cloud your administration," Icahn wrote in a letter to Trump released on his website.
