Iowa native Sam Clovis on Wednesday withdrew from consideration his nomination to become the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientist.

Clovis, a former top official to President Trump’s campaign, decided to rescind his nomination amid questioning from special counsel Robert Mueller regarding Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

In August 2016, Clovis reportedly encouraged a then-member of the candidate Trump’s foreign-policy advisory panel, George Pappadopoulos, to meet with Russian officials. Court documents reported that the meeting did not actually take place.

“I would encourage you” and another foreign policy adviser to the campaign to “make the trip, if it is feasible,” Clovis wrote.

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Clovis’ decision also followed the Monday release of court records showing that Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to giving FBI investigators false information regarding his contact with people who had ties to high-level Russians.

“The political climate inside Washington has made it impossible for me to receive balanced and fair consideration for this position,” Clovis wrote about his nomination to the USDA post.

The hearing for his appointment would have taken place Nov. 9. Many scientists had opposed his nomination to the science position, noting that Clovis had little to no experience as a scientist.

— Madeleine Neal