Name

Rick Perry

Notable Quotes

“I want to thank Secretary of Energy Rick Perry for the outstanding job he has done. He will be leaving at the end of the year to pursue other interests. Rick was a great Governor of Texas and a great Secretary of Energy,” Trump tweeted in October.

Position/Nomination

Secretary of Energy

Unfounded/Discredited Attack(s)

He was accused of being fundamentally unfit for the office of Energy Secretary

Accuser

Democratic Senate Leadership

Dirty Tactics

Democrats framed Rick Perry, a 15 year Governor of Texas, as being inadequate for holding the office, claining his stance on climate change was a disqualified alone, and said his strong ties to the oil and gas industry meant he would be a self serving Secretary of Energy.

Outcome

Confirmed as Energy Secretary 

Was their career destroyed?

No, continues to serve as Energy Secretary.

UPDATE: On October 17, 2019, Perry reported to President Trump that he intended to resign as Secretary of Energy at the end of the year. He left office on December 1, 2019. Source: Perry ends final day as Energy secretary | The Hill – December 1, 2019