(The Center Square) – Sheriff Chad Chronister, picked by President-elect Donald Trump to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, has withdrawn his name from consideration.
Chronister is the sheriff in Hillsborough County, Florida, and is now the second nominee to withdraw after being nominated for the position, which requires Senate approval.
Chronister said in a post on X that being nominated byTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration was “the honor of a lifetime.”
The Sheriff stated that he made the decision to withdraw “as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in.” He didn’t elaborate further.
“There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling,” he wrote. “I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.”
President-Elect Trump, only days ago, announced the Sheriff’s nomination, stating that Chonister would “secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES.”
The Florida Sheriff was immediately backed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who posted on X that he looked “forward to him taking on the drug cartels on behalf of the American people.”
Chronister, who has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for 32 years, almost immediately after being nominated, received backlash for a previous decision to order an arrest of a pastor during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pastor was arrested for holding worship services in violation of quarantine orders.
“I’m going to call ’em like I see ’em. Trump’s nominee for head of DEA should be disqualified for ordering the arrest a pastor who defied COVID lockdowns,” posted Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, on X.
Chronister said at the time of the arrest that the pastor “repeatedly” violated social distancing orders from the president, CDC, and local public health authorities with “reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger.”
Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s embattled pick to lead the U.S. Department of Justice as attorney general, withdrew his name from consideration to lead the federal law enforcement agency.
This article was originally published at www.thecentersquare.com
