Jackson said Holder’s remarks were irresponsible and were making him the scapegoat. “I think he’s about to leave office and needs to say he accomplished something in Ferguson,” Jackson said.

The most prominent cry for Jackson’s ouster came last week when U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., told a radio station: “I think it would be a good thing if we had change of leadership at the Ferguson Police Department, just because I think it’s important we start with a clean slate.”

Other public officials have not denied being a part of an effort to force out Jackson, but stopped short of acknowledging it.

Jeff Rainford, the chief of staff to St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, said Jackson’s resignation was just one of many topics during conversations about Ferguson.

But he said St. Louis officials have “not been involved in trying to influence the chief in what he should or shouldn’t do.”

“Not to say we haven’t heard things, or haven’t been privy to things,” Rainford added.

The city took a more active role in Ferguson issues after the shooting of VonDerrit Myers Jr. in the city’s Shaw neighborhood.

“It became clear that this is a regional issue,” Rainford said.