WASHINGTON (AP) — Labor Secretary nominee Andrew Puzder is working to divest his assets from his fast food empire so he can be confirmed to the Cabinet post that enforces protections for American workers, a spokesman said Wednesday.
Puzder is CEO of fast food empire CKE Restaurants Inc., and his spokesman George Thompson said divesting assets is a “complex process” since the company is privately held.
It was the first time that Puzder has acknowledged he is trying to avoid conflicts of interest by fully separating himself from CKE Restaurants Inc., which owns such fast food chains as Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.
CKE has said that Puzder would step down as CEO once confirmed.
“I am fully committed to becoming secretary of labor and I am looking forward to my hearing,” Puzder said Wednesday in a statement to The Associated Press.