Attorney General John Ashcroft and Commerce Secretary Don Evans have resigned from their respective posts. They are the first members of President Bush’s Cabinet to leave as the President heads into his second term.
As Secretary of Commerce, Evans over-saw the United States Patent & Trademark Office. This spring he led a special envoy to China to discuss intellectual property and piracy with Chinese officials and practitioners. Mercer Reynolds has been mentioned as a possible replacement.
Ashcroft was a constant figure on national television in the days following 9/11. More recently, his administration has supported a strong policy against IP piracy.