Out U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican
Republic James “Wally” Brewster on Wednesday announced his
resignation.
Brewster will resign on January 20, the
day of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
“At midday on Jan 20, 2017, I will
submit my resignation as U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic
and Bob and I will leave in search of new adventures,” Brewster
said in a series of tweets. “Our spirits will remain with you
forever.”
President Barack Obama nominated
Brewster to the post in 2013.
Even before he arrived in Santo
Domingo, conservative leaders on the island protested the nomination
of an openly gay ambassador.
Roman Catholic leaders organized a
“Black Monday” demonstration to express their opposition to
Brewster. Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, the former cardinal of
the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, repeatedly used anti-gay slurs such
as “wife” and “faggot” to describe Brewster.
Stepping down as a new president takes
office is commonplace for sitting ambassadors.