Kurt Busch’s ex-girlfriend resigns from Armed Forces Foundation under scrutiny

Patricia Driscoll, the ex-girlfriend of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, has resigned as president of the Armed Forces Foundation, effectively immediately.

ESPN first reported Driscoll's resignation Wednesday, which AFF confirmed in a statement. She had served as president since 2003. The AFF had placed Driscoll on administrative leave last week and accepted Driscoll's resignation Tuesday night.

"We are appreciative of Patricia's 12 years of service to our armed forces, veterans, and their families," the statement said. "During her tenure the Armed Forces Foundation programs expanded and we were able to provide more assistance to those in need, including vital resources to pay rent, buy food, or afford other necessities while a military member recovered from his or her injuries. The Armed Forces Foundation also helped many military families through school counseling programs and education initiatives like Operation Caring Classroom."

The announcement comes as Driscoll is under investigation by the FBI and IRS for misappropriation of AFF funds. She is alleged to have used foundation money to pay for personal expenses, including vacations abroad, legal fees and credit card bills for her private defense company, Frontline Defense Systems, according to an ESPN Outside the Lines report last month.

Driscoll and the AFF denied any wrongdoing in statements to SB Nation.

Driscoll released a statement in conjunction with the AFF's regarding her decision to resign.

"I am proud of what we achieved during my time at the Armed Forces Foundation," Driscoll said. "Especially as it pertains to PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and TBI [traumatic brain injury], the Foundation is saving lives by creating awareness and helping veterans find the services they need before taking tragic and drastic steps such as suicide.  Foundation programs allow wounded services members and their families an opportunity to enjoy time away from a hospital to help in the healing in the process. Seeing the wounded service members and their families enjoying a day together during a very difficult time was a tremendous inspiration to me in my work. The military members and veterans of this Country are the true heroes to us all."

The AFF named Brian Cooke as its executive director.

Driscoll is the former girlfriend of Busch, whom she accused of domestic abuse last September. Driscoll alleges Busch grabbed her by the throat and smashed her head three times against a wall inside his motor home at Dover International Speedway -- the site of that weekend's NASCAR race.

Driscoll sought a no-contact order against Busch, which a Delaware Family Court judge approved in February. The 2004 Cup Series champion testified to cupping Driscoll's face, but that he did not assault her. The case took a surreal turn when Busch alleged Driscoll was a government assassin who had killed drug lords worldwide.

The Delaware Attorney General's office declined to pursue criminal charges against Busch.