Wolfowitz Hints at Resignation

Besieged World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz suggested for the first time that he would resign his post—but only if he is first cleared of wrongdoing in ordering promotions and pay raises for his girlfriend Shaha Riza, reports the Wall Street Journal. A committee of the bank's board, investigating the charges, heard from Wolfowitz and Riza yesterday.

“Only when the cloud of these unfair and untrue charges is removed, will it be truly possible to determine objectively whether I can be an effective leader of the World Bank,” he told the committee. But Wolfowitz also raged against criticism of his conduct as “a smear campaign” intended to “undermine my effectiveness as president.” (More Paul Wolfowitz stories.)