NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Chad Chronister, Donald Trump's pick to run the Drug Enforcement Administration, has withdrawn his name from consideration for the job, becoming the second person selected by the president-elect to bow out quickly after being selected for a position requiring Senate confirmation. Trump says he pulled the plug.
The sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, said Tuesday in a post on X that he was backing away from the opportunity, which he called 鈥渢he honor of a lifetime.鈥�
鈥淥ver the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I鈥檝e concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,鈥� Chronister wrote. He did not elaborate.
On Wednesday, Trump claimed he was the one who made the call.
鈥淗e didn鈥檛 pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters,鈥� Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media website.
Chronister had faced backlash from some conservatives, who raised concerns over his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his saying that his office 鈥渄oes not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities.鈥�
In March 2020, Chronister arrested the pastor of a megachurch who held services with hundreds of people and violated a safer-at-home order in place aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus.
鈥淪hame on this pastor, their legal staff and the leaders of this staff for forcing us to do our job. That鈥檚 not what we wanted to do during a declared state of emergency,鈥� Chronister said at the time. 鈥淲e are hopeful that this will be a wakeup call.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky, was among those airing public complaints, saying Chronister should be 鈥渄isqualified鈥� for the arrest.
Others flagged comments Chronister made in a video about Florida鈥檚 immigration laws that he released in 2023 that circulated again online after Trump named him last weekend.
In the video, Chronister praised the 鈥渞ich diversity鈥� of his community and called it 鈥渁 place where people from all walks of life come together.鈥�
He said it was important to note his office 鈥渄oes not engage in federal immigration enforcement activities. We do not target individuals based on their immigration status. That鈥檚 the authority of federal agencies.鈥�
Trump has made a sweeping crackdown on immigration a central focus of his campaign and his aims for his coming administration.
, Trump鈥檚 first pick to serve as attorney general, also withdrew his name for a post in the incoming administration. Gaetz dropped out after scrutiny over that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed as the nation鈥檚 chief federal law enforcement officer.
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Associated Press writers Adriana Gomez Licon in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report.
Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press
