Washington (CNN) Sam Clovis, a White House adviser on the US Department of Agriculture, is leaving the department, and his last day will be Friday, Politico has reported, citing a source who attended his going-away party on Thursday evening. Clovis had been President Donald Trump's nominee to be the department's chief scientist, but he withdrew from consideration last year. Sources told CNN at the time of his withdrawal t hat Clovis' nomination was imperiled as well over his connections to the ongoing Russia probe. CNN KFILE review in August 2017 revealed Clovis had previously said homosexuality is a choice and that the sanctioning of same-sex marriage could lead to the legalization of pedophilia. Clovis will go back to his home state of Iowa following his departure, a USDA official told Politico.

Source: CNN May 04, 2018 01:41 UTC