[JURIST] The White House issued a brief statement [text] Friday withdrawing the nomination of corporate attorney Timothy Flanigan to be US Deputy Attorney General. Flanigan forwarded a letter to President Bush Friday requesting that the nomination be recalled, citing concerns about the timing of his confirmation. Flanigan's decision comes one week after the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on his nomination, and announced plans to further question the nominee on his role in crafting the administration's controversial detainee interrogation policy during his tenure as deputy to then White House legal counsel Alberto Gonzales [official website]. The issue of the detainee interrogation policy, alleged ties to Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and Congressional concerns about oversight of the position have threatened Flanigan's confirmation. In July, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-PA) [official website] hinted that he might not support Flanigan's nomination [JURIST report] if Flanigan and the White House were not willing to allow proper Congressional oversight of his role. AFP has more.