BREAKING: ClimateGate's Jones Steps Down Pending Investigation

The British scientist in the middle of the growing ClimateGate scandal is temporarily stepping down from his position as head of the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit pending an investigation.

As NewsBusters reported on November 20, Phil Jones was one of the scientists on the sending and receiving end of many of the controversial e-mail messages obtained from the University's computer system.

The Associated Press reported moments ago (h/t Marc Morano):

Britain's University of East Anglia says the director of its prestigious Climatic Research Unit is stepping down pending an investigation into allegations that he overstated the case for man-made climate change.

The university says Phil Jones will relinquish his position until the completion of an independent review into allegations that he worked to alter the way in which global temperature data was presented.

As NewsBusters has been reporting since this story first broke, most global warming-obsessed media have either ignored this scandal or downplayed its significance.

With the man in the middle of the controversy now stepping down from his position, will America's press pay more attention to this matter?

Stay tuned.