The head of the Brookings Institution resigned in the midst of a federal investigation into whether he lobbied the U.S. government on behalf of Qatar, according to a letter released Sunday.
Retired Marine Gen. John Allen, the chief of the influential Washington-based think tank, wrote in his letter (pdf): “While I leave the institution with a heavy heart, I know it is best for all concerned at this moment.” Allen did not provide a direct explanation as to why he was leaving the organization.
A former four-star general who helped lead the United States and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Allen’s letter came about a week after new court filings showed the FBI seized his electronic data in the midst of an investigation….