The resignation of White House counsel Bob Bauer

The White House announced on Thursday that White House Counsel Bob Bauer will leave office at the end of this month, and his top deputy Kathryn Ruemmler will fill his shoes.

Bauer will return to Perkins Coie where he will resume his practice focused on serving as general counsel to President Barack Obama's reelection campaign, general counsel to the Democratic National Committee, and personal lawyer to Obama, the White House said in a statement.

Ruemmler currently serves as the Principal Deputy Counsel to the President and has served as Bauer's deputy since January 2010.

"Kathy is an outstanding lawyer with impeccable judgment," said Obama. "Together, Bob and Kathy have led the White House Counsel's office, and Kathy will assure that it continues to successfully manage its wide variety of responsibilities."

Ruemmler joined the Obama administration in January 2009, as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice. She is best known as lead prosecutor in the Enron fraud case while serving as a federal prosecutor.

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