Washington (CNN) US Attorney Jessie Liu has withdrawn herself from consideration for the No. 3 spot at the Justice Department, spokesperson Kerri Kupec said Thursday.

If confirmed for the position of associate attorney general, Liu would have been the most senior woman at a Justice Department with a large portfolio, but CNN has learned her past affiliation with a progressive women's organization derailed her pending nomination in the Senate and she pulled out of consideration for the job because she did not want to be a distraction at a critical time for the department.

Attorney General William Barr issued a statement Thursday praising Liu and saying she "would have made an outstanding associate attorney general."

"Jessie Liu is one of the finest, most impressive people serving in the Department of Justice," Barr said the statement, adding that he would appoint her to be chairwoman of his advisory committee.

While Liu was confirmed as US attorney for DC by voice vote in September 2017, her nomination as associate attorney general faced opposition from Utah GOP Sen. Mike Lee, among others, making a successful path to confirmation a difficult prospect, according to a source familiar with the situation.

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