Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister withdraws as Trump’s nominee to lead DEA

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister has withdrawn his name to be considered as President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

“Being nominated by President-elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is an honor of a lifetime,” Chronister wrote in a post on X.

“In recent days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility has been felt, I have come to the conclusion that out of respect I must withdraw from consideration. There is still much work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and many initiatives that I support committed to accomplishing,” Chronister continued.

He said he appreciates the nomination and support of the American people and looks forward to continuing his work as sheriff.

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Lake County District 1 Commissioner Anthony Sabatini called Chronister’s resignation a “great victory for freedom.”

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“This sheriff ordered the arrest of a pastor for conducting church services during the COVID panic. He was chosen by Trump to head the DEA. I’m glad he withdrew from the exam. The next time politicians lose their eternal sense, this is how he can redeem himself.” “Follow the Constitution,” Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., wrote in a post on X following the sheriff’s announcement.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., spoke to Fox News after Chronister’s withdrawal and defended the sheriff.

“What disqualifies someone? We all make mistakes throughout life, don’t we? I haven’t talked about any details about it yet. But as far as someone who made a mistake in their past, give us an example of someone who didn’t make a mistake in the past,” Mullin said.

Chronister faced backlash from several conservative figures for arresting a pastor for violating COVID rules.

Rev Rodney Howard-Browne was arrested in March 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I announce the arrest of Dr. “Ronald Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, who has intentionally and repeatedly ignored state and local health orders, putting his congregation and our community at risk,” Chronister noted in a tweet to Time.

“We hope this acts as a deterrent,” Chronister said during a press conference in 2020. “Disgrace to this pastor, his legal staff and the leaders of this church for forcing us to do our work. This is not what we wanted to do during the declared state of emergency.”

The charges were later dropped.

Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler called on Trump to reverse his picks after the nomination.

“Chad Chronister is a COVID bully who arrested a Christian pastor for worshiping in person during the pandemic. Chronister held a press conference bragging about the arrest. Chronister has abused his power; he is unfit to run the DEA. “Trump should withdraw his nomination,” Wheeler wrote in an earlier post on X.

In a previous statement to Fox News Digital on Monday: Rep. Chip RoyR-Texas, said: “We don’t need authoritarians who refuse to use discretion and protect the Constitution — no matter which party is in power.”

Despite his arrest, Howard-Browne supported Chronister and shared a video on X alongside the sheriff.

“Chad Chronister has been my friend for many years, through good times and challenges,” Howard-Browne said in a message addressed to Trump that he shared publicly on X.

“I firmly believe he acted with the intention of doing the right thing and I have seen firsthand how he learned and grew from those experiences. 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 restore the friendship we had, a friendship that I will always cherish,” he continued.

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Chronister was appointed head of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office by then-Florida Gov. Rick Scott in 2017 and was re-elected twice.

Alex Nitzberg of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected].