Ridge announces resignation
Former Pa. governor was first Homeland Security secretary
Tuesday, November 30, 2004 Posted: 3:09 PM EST (2009 GMT)


(CNN) -- Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced Tuesday that he is stepping down from his post.

Ridge, 59, told his senior staff of the decision Tuesday morning, after which an e-mail was sent to the department's 180,000 employees, the officials said.

The former two-term governor of Pennsylvania said he will remain at the helm of the agency until February 1, unless a successor is confirmed before then.



Like rats leaving a sinking ship, innit?