Lawyer Timothy Broas, an important fund raiser for US president Barack Obama, will not be the new American ambassador to the Netherlands after all, the White House said this week.

The two-line press statement said simply that Broas’ withdrawal was ‘sent to the senate’. It gave no reason for the move.
Just over two weeks ago, Broas made a statement to the senate foreign affairs committee saying that he pledged ‘to devote all my energy to represent the United States to the best of my ability’.
The senate had to vote in favour of the nomination before Broas officially had the job.
Strong ties
‘Clearly, for a country barely the size of Rhode Island with only 16 million people, the Netherlands punches well above its weight,’ Broas said. ‘If I am confirmed, I will work tirelessly to maintain and improve our strong economic and trade relations with the Netherlands.’
Broas, a partner in law firm Winston & Strawn, collected more than $500,000 for Obama’s 2012 campaign from family members, colleagues and other wealthy associates, the Washington Post said in April, when his candidacy was announced.