In a surprise announcement Friday, President Obama announced White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is resigning.
"Jay has become one of my closest friends and is a great press secretary. ... I actually think he will miss hanging out with all of you. Including the guys in the front row." (Via MSNBC)
A distinguished journalist who was Time's Washington bureau chief, Carney joined the Obama administration in 2008. He signed on as Obama's press secretary in 2011 after Robert Gibbs resigned. (Via C-SPAN)
The announcement comes on the same day Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki handed his resignation to the president after Shinseki's department was embroiled in scandal. (Via CBS)
The president announced Friday current Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest will be replacing the outgoing Carney. Earnest also narrates the White House video series "West Wing Week" and was described by Obama as a "straight shooter."
Carney told reporters he doesn't have a definite timetable for stepping down but plans to leave sometime in mid-June.
