U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley lost two top aides today due to “family concerns”. These departures couldn’t have come at a worse time as the mounting tension between the international community and North Korea continues to grow.
Haley’s Chief of Staff Steven Groves resigned, as did her communications director Jonathan Wachtel. Haley said on Twitter Wednesday it was because of “family concerns.” The departures also come ahead of Haley’s trip to Vienna to review Iran’s nuclear activities with the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency.
Before joining Haley’s staff, Groves worked at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington, DC. He never broke into Haley’s inner circle, which consists of aides that followed the former South Carolina governor from Columbia to New York, Politico reported citing a source “with contacts in the mission.”
Thanks for your concern.Both Jonathan&Steve have recently encountered family concerns.They will always be a part of the team & dear friends.
— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) August 10, 2017
As reported by Politico.com:
Two people with contacts inside the U.S. Mission to the United Nations also confirmed the men quit, though it was not clear exactly when their resignations will take effect.
Groves had joined Haley’s office from the Heritage Foundation. He was known to be deeply skeptical of international institutions and multilateral agreements.
One of the people with contacts in the mission said that despite his conservative bona fides, Groves never really broke into Haley’s inner circle, which includes aides who have followed her to New York from her tenure as South Carolina’s governor.
Wachtel joined Haley’s office from Fox News, where he served as a journalist covering the United Nations.
The State Department declined to comment, pointing instead to Haley’s tweet. The news of the pair of departures was first reported Wednesday on Twitter by the journalist Laura Rozen.