In a surprise statement, President Clinton said he accepted the resignation "with regret." He praised Woolsey for "advancing the transformation of U.S. intelligence in the aftermath of the Cold War."
But Woolsey had been under fire for weeks, as lawmakers criticized the way he handled revelations that Ames, a CIA counterintelligence officer, had been spying for Russia for years. The discipline Woolsey meted to several CIA officials was not severe enough for some lawmakers.
The statement did not indicate who would succeed Woolsey.
One of the names that has been mentioned as a strong possibility for the post is Deputy Defense Secretary John Deutch, the No. 2 man at the Pentagon.
The news of Woolsey's resignation came just hours after Clinton named Representative Dan Glickman, a Kansas Democrat, as his new agriculture secretary. Glickman had been rumored a candidate for Woolsey's job.
Outgoing agriculture secretary Mike Espy left under fire.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.