Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister, who was recently named by President-elect Donald Trump as his pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced Tuesday he would withdraw from consideration following criticism over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump had announced Chronister’s nomination over the weekend, saying that both he and Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi would “secure the Border, stop the flow of fentanyl, and other illegal drugs across the Southern Border, and save lives.” However, the news of Chronister’s nomination quickly faced backlash from conservatives online, who resurfaced his controversial decisions as sheriff during pandemic lockdowns.
The criticism particularly centered on his approval of the arrest of a Tampa Bay church pastor for unlawful assembly and violating public health emergency rules. A report by the Daily Caller noted that in March of 2020, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released a press release saying that while authorities “would never impede on someone’s ability to lean on their religious beliefs as a means of comfort,” individuals who are practicing their religious beliefs must do so “safely.”
“His 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,” Chronister’s office said at the time. “The River at Tampa Bay has an advantage over most places of worship, because they have access to technology that allows them to live stream their services over the internet and broadcast television for the more than 4,000 members to watch from the safety of their homes.”
In a statement on Tuesday, Chronister described the nomination as “the honor of a lifetime” but cited ongoing commitments in his current role as the reason for stepping aside.
“To have been nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime,” Chronister said in a post on X. “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. 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.
