Donald Trump’s Drug Enforcement Pick Chad Chronister Withdraws

Chad Chronister decides to step down from the DEA selection, says "more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County in Florida"

Some Trump supporters criticised Chad Chronister's nomination, citing his arrest of a Florida pastor for violating a COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Source : X/@ChadChronister

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Chad Chronister, announced on Tuesday that he was withdrawing from consideration. Chronister, a Florida sheriff, is the second Trump nominee to step down shortly after being selected.

“Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister, posted on X. “There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling. I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County,” he added.

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to Reuters, on Sunday, Trump announced his intention to nominate Chronister to lead the DEA, saying he would focus on stemming the flow of fentanyl across the US border with Mexico. The agency is part of the Justice Department and is responsible for enforcing US drug laws.

Some Trump supporters criticised Chronister's nomination, citing his arrest of a Florida pastor for violating a COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Chronister has worked for more than 30 years in local law enforcement and also appeared to lack the broader experience suited for the DEA role. 

Reacting to this Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky criticised Trump’s selection in a post on X on Sunday, saying the sheriff “should be disqualified” over his enforcement of Covid-19 protocols. After Chronister’s withdrawal Tuesday, Massie said in a separate post that he was “glad to see him withdraw from consideration.”

His withdrawal follows a similar move by former Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz, Trump's first pick for attorney general who dropped out of consideration amid concerns about his previous conduct.

According to a CNN report, Trump had previously granted a presidential pardon to Chronister’s father-in-law Edward DeBartolo Jr, who pleaded guilty in 1998 to failing to report a felony in a bribery case. The case was linked to former Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards’ federal prison sentence. Though DeBartolo avoided jail time, he agreed to pay a $1 million fine and relinquished ownership of the National Football League (NFL) team to his sister.