Story highlights Lieberman cited the hiring of attorney Marc Kasowitz as posing a potential conflict of interest

CNN has learned the team tasked by the White House with finding a new director for the FBI is resetting its search

Former TSA chief John Pistole may be under consideration

(CNN) Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, once considered a front-runner to succeed James Comey as FBI director, formally withdrew his name from consideration Thursday.

In a letter to President Donald Trump that was obtained by CNN, the 2000 Democratic vice presidential nominee cites Trump's hiring of attorney Marc Kasowitz to represent him during investigations into alleged ties between his presidential campaign and Russia.

Lieberman, a senior counsel for the New York-based Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, said it "would be best to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest."

"I am grateful for you consideration, and I wish you the very best in identifying the right person to lead this most important law enforcement agency in the future," Lieberman writes.

A senior administration official has told CNN that the team tasked by the White House with finding a new director for the FBI is resetting its search after a wide range of dissatisfaction with talk of Lieberman as a possible nominee. Trump has since decided he wants to see a broader range of candidates for the job, the official said.

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