Rising conservative star Ben Carson said on Friday that his departure from Fox News as a commentator amid speculation that he might seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 was "thoroughly amicable" and "in the best interest for both Fox News and myself."
"At this time, no decision has been made to run for president," Carson, 63, the retired Baltimore pediatric neurosurgeon, said in statement. "However, recognizing the possibility, Fox News felt I needed complete independence to fully examine my options."
Carson, who also is a Newsmax columnist, joined Fox in October 2013. The network said it had ended the relationship "in response to speculation about his presidential ambitions,"
according to a Fox report.
He is to be featured in an hour-long documentary this weekend that will air in 22 states and Washington, ABC News reports.
Called "A Breath of Fresh Air: A New Prescription for America," the paid video discusses Carson's childhood in Detroit and chronicles his years as head of pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. He retired from Johns Hopkins last year.
It is seen as an introduction of Carson to Americans,
The Washington Times reports. Carson also writes a column for the newspaper.
A segment is featured
on Carson's website and includes clips of his attacks on Obama administration policies as President Barack Obama listened
to his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast in February 2013.
The documentary is produced by a production company owned by conservative commentator Armstrong Williams, who also is a Newsmax columnist.
Tyler Harber, a Republican strategist, told Fox that Carson's team has been attending conservative events ever since 2012 collecting names and email contacts.
"The man's running," Harber said. "He's been running for two years."
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