Chad Chronister introduced Tuesday he was withdrawing his identify from consideration to run the Drug Enforcement Company, three days after President-elect Donald Trump made introduced he had chosen the Hillsborough County, Florida, sheriff for the place.
Though Trump touted Chronister and mentioned he would work to ” cease the stream of Fentanyl, and different Unlawful Medication,” there was pushback towards Chronister from conservatives for his enforcement of COVID-19 lockdowns throughout the pandemic.
Chronister mentioned in a submit on X that there was “extra work to be completed for the residents” of his county.
On this Oct. 15, 2024, file picture, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister speaks throughout a press convention contained in the Falkenburg Highway Jail Meeting Room on the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Workplace, in Tampa, Fla.
Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Instances by way of ZUMA Press Wire by way of Shutterstock, FILE
“To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to function Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honour of a lifetime. Over the previous a number of days, because the gravity of this essential accountability set in, I’ve concluded that I need to respectfully withdraw from consideration,” he mentioned in his submit.
Trump didn’t instantly remark.
The place requires Senate approval.
At one level throughout the pandemic, Chronister arrested a pastor who defied lockdown orders and held a service which was blasted by many distinguished conservatives.
A number of of the sheriff’s opponents applauded his resolution to withdraw from the place.
“Glad to see him withdraw from consideration. Subsequent time politicians lose their ever-lovin minds, he can redeem himself by following the Structure,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., posted on X on Tuesday.
ABC Information’ Katherine Faulders contributed to this report.
