Karl Rove, President Bush's close friend and chief political strategist, plans to leave the administration at the end of August, the White House said Monday.
A longtime member of Mr. Bush's inner circle, Rove was nicknamed "the architect" by the president for designing the strategy that twice won him the White House.
A criminal investigation put Rove under scrutiny for months during the investigation into the leak of a CIA operative's name but he was never charged with any crime. In a more recent controversy, Rove, citing executive privilege, has refused to testify before Congress about the firing of U.S. attorneys.
Mr. Bush was expected to make a statement Monday with Rove. Later Monday, Rove, his wife and their son were to accompany Mr. Bush on Air Force One when the president flies to Texas for his vacation.
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