Commerce secretary steps down

John Bryson announced his resignation as President Barack Obama’s commerce secretary Thursday after an episode in which he had a seizure and was involved in a sequence of automobile accidents.

“The work that you do to help America’s entrepreneurs and businesses build our economy and create jobs is more important now than ever, and I have come to the conclusion that I need to step down to prevent distractions from this critical mission,” Bryson said in a message to department employees.

Bryson offered no further information about his health or the status of the legal case after the episode earlier this month. He had taken a medical leave shortly afterward and left the department in the hands of his deputy, Rebecca Blank.In his message to employees Thursday, Bryson said Blank would continue to serve as acting secretary.

Bryson spoke with Obama on Wednesday night to tender his resignation and followed up with a letter formalizing the decision. The president released a statement Thursday morning thanking Bryson for his service and indicating that Blank would remain as acting secretary for the time being.

“As secretary, John fought tirelessly for our nation’s businesses and workers, helping to bolster our exports and promote American manufacturing and products at home and abroad,” Obama said in the statement. “John has proven himself an effective and distinguished leader throughout his career in both the public and private sectors, from his success in the business world to his work leading on issues in the renewable energy industry.”

Bryson, 68, a longtime California electricity conglomerate executive and founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, served just eight months in the Cabinet.

But his back-to-back automobile accidents in California on June 9 drew wider attention. Driving a Lexus in suburban San Gabriel, Bryson rolled the vehicle into the back of a Buick waiting at a train crossing, according to authorities. He got out to offer to give the other driver his information, then got back into his car andhit the Buick again as he was driving off, police said. Just minutes later, he crashed into the rear of another car about 2 miles away.

Bryson was found unconscious behind the wheel and was taken to the hospital. He was cited for a hit-and-run accident. His department later said he had a seizure, but it was not clear whether he had it before, during or after the accidents.