Chad Chronister, DEA Nominee, Withdraws after Social Media Backlash

According to Yahoo news on December 3rd, Chad Chronister, the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, withdrew his nomination to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just three days after President-elect Donald Trump announced his selection. Chronister cited the "gravity" of the responsibility and his ongoing commitments in Hillsborough County as reasons for stepping down. He expressed gratitude for the nomination and pledged to continue his work as sheriff.

Trump had reportedly praised Chronister as a nominee who would collaborate with Attorney General Pam Bondi to combat drug trafficking and the opioid crisis. However, the announcement faced much criticism, including from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who highlighted Chronister's controversial decision to arrest a pastor for holding services during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to other reports, The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association also reportedly opposed Chronister’s nomination, saying it was “shocked and dismayed” by his selection because of his enforcement of covid mandates.

Chronister is the second Trump nominee to withdraw recently, following Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who stepped back from the attorney general nomination amid allegations of misconduct. Read the article here.