Tom Daschle, who was tapped by President Barack Obama to become secretary of Health and Human Services, withdrew his nomination for the post earlier today, citing his widely publicized failure to pay $146,000 in back taxes, The Washington Post reports.

“This morning, Tom Daschle asked me to withdraw his nomination,” Obama said in a statement. “I accept his decision with sadness and regret.”

Daschle said that being chosen for the position had been “one of the signal honors of an improbable career.”

“But if 30 years of exposure to the challenges inherent in our system has taught me anything, it has taught me that this work will require a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction,” Daschle added. “Right now, I am not that leader.”