In a sharply worded statement, Jones said the controversy had become an unceasing distraction and assailed his critics. 

“On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide,” Jones said. 

He said he had been “inundated” with calls from supporters urging him to “stay and fight.” 

“But I came here to fight for others, not for myself,” he said. “I cannot in good conscience ask my colleagues to expend precious time and energy defending or explaining my past. We need all hands on deck, fighting for the future.” 

Nancy Sutley, chairwoman of the council Jones had been advising, said in a statement that she accepted the resignation, which was effective immediately, and called him a “strong voice for creating 21st century jobs that improve energy efficiency and utilize renewable resources.” 

The White House had stayed relatively quiet about Jones as the controversy developed, leading to speculation that he was on the way out. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Friday said only that he “continues to work in the administration.” 

Asked about the resignation on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday, Gibbs would not say whether President Obama ultimately urged him to leave. 

“The president and the CEQ accepted his resignation because Van Jones, as he says in his statement, understood that he was going to get in the way of the president and ultimately this country moving forward on something as important as creating jobs in a clean energy economy,” Gibbs said, adding that Obama does not endorse Jones’ statements and associations. 

“He doesn’t, but he thanks him for his service to the country,” Gibbs said. 

White House adviser David Axelrod said Obama did not order Jones out of the administration, but commended him for the decision to step down. Axelrod said Jones showed his “commitment” to his cause by removing himself “as an issue.” 

“The political environment is rough, so these things get magnified,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” 

Jones is considered a rising star in environmental circles. He wrote the New York Times bestseller “The Green Collar Economy” and has co-founded and worked with several groups dedicated to helping low-income and minority communities — often through green jobs and better environmental policy. He got his start as a San Francisco-area activist. 

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, speaking on “FOX News Sunday,” called the resignation a “loss for the country.”