Newly elected President Donald Trump was chosen to lead drug enforcement agency It was announced Tuesday that he would not take the job following conservative backlash to his nomination.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister — who has been described by some conservatives as a “COVID dictator” — stepped down just three days after Trump chose him to lead the nation’s primary agency. illegal drugs,
“To be nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to be Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime,” Chronister said in a statement.
“Over the past several days, because of the gravity of this extremely important responsibility, I have concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” the veteran policeman said. “There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and I am committed to completing many of the initiatives.”
“I sincerely appreciate the nomination, the support shown by the American people, and look forward to continuing to serve as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.”
Chronister’s record as Hillsborough County sheriff — especially at the height of COVID-19 — came under scrutiny soon after his nomination.
On March 30, 2020, Chronister ordered the arrest of Ronald Howard-Brown, pastor of The River in Tampa Bay Church, for alleged violations. covid-19 lockdown Gives orders by organizing services in his church.
Howard-Brown “willfully and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community at risk,” Chronister tweeted at the time.
The pastor was charged with unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules. Both charges – second-degree misdemeanors – were later dropped.
“The State Attorney’s Office recognizes that the focus of our emergency health laws is compliance and not criminal punishment,” Chronister said after Howard-Brown’s arrest.
“Law enforcement intervention through arrest has been rare during this health crisis, and while it remains a necessary tool to protect the health and safety of our community, we agree that further criminal sanctions are not necessary in this case.” Are.”
Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) both criticized Chronister’s nomination.
“I’ll call them as I see them. Trump’s nominee to head the DEA should be disqualified for ordering the arrest of a pastor who violated COVID lockdowns, Massey wrote on Twitter.
“We do not need authoritarians who refuse to use reason and defend the Constitution – no matter which party is in power,” Roy told Fox News Digital,
Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler argued that Chronister “abused” his authority by arresting Howard-Brown and that he is “unsuitable” to lead the DEA.
“Chad Chronister is a COVID tyrant who arrested a Christian pastor for holding in-person church during the pandemic,” he wrote on X.
“Chronister held a press conference boasting about the arrest. Chronister abused his power; He is unfit to lead the DEA. Trump should withdraw his nomination.
Howard-Browne supported Chronister’s nomination despite his arrest.
“I truly believe he intended to do the right thing, and I’ve seen firsthand how he’s learned and grown from those experiences,” the pastor wrote on X. Shortly after my arrest, Sheriff Chronister called me and told me he really missed our friendship. We met for dinner at my house and we were able to reestablish our friendship, which I will always cherish.”
“His vision, determination and leadership make him the ideal candidate to lead the DEA,” Howard-Brown said.
In announcing his nomination Saturday, Trump praised Chronister’s “countless accolades and awards” as a law enforcement officer and his public safety record and efforts to crack down on human trafficking.
“Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs across the southern border, and save lives,” the president-elect said.
The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
(TagstoTranslate)Politics(T)US news(T)Coronavirus(T)DEA(T)Donald Trump(T)Drug Enforcement Agency(T)Drugs(T)Pandemic(T)Trump infection
