State Department Official to Resign in Wake of Blackwater Criticism

The assistant secretary of state, who oversaw diplomatic security, plans to submit his resignation in the wake of a report critical of his handling of Blackwater security contractors, according to State Department officials briefed on the matter this morning.

Ambassador Richard Griffin told his staff he would be submitting his resignation to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

There was no immediate comment from the State Department.

Griffin's resignation follows the release yesterday of a State Department review that found serious problems with the operations of the Diplomatic Security Service, which Griffin oversaw, including lax oversight of private security contractors, including Blackwater USA...[Open in new window]