29 Nov 2012

American Samoa's Hunkin withdraws bid for Foreign Affairs Committee

11:13 am on 29 November 2012

American Samoa's delegate to the U.S. House of Representative is withdrawing from the race for ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

In doing so, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin thanked his colleagues for their ground-breaking support of his historic bid.

But he says he is withdrawing from the race and joining with other Democratic members of the Foreign Affairs Committee in fully supporting Congressman Eliot Engel's bid.

Faleomavaega says he met with Mr Engel yesterday to inform him of his decision.

He also says that he has full confidence that Eliot Engel will do an outstanding job as Ranking Member.

Meanwhile, Faleomavaega plans to bid again for ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

He served on this subcommittee for the last 24 years.