Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister bows out of nomination for DEA administrator

"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," Chronister wrote on X.

By Charlotte Hazard

Published: December 3, 2024 5:34pm

Chad Chronister on Tuesday announced that he would withdraw his nomination for the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

"To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime," he wrote on the social media platform, 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."

Chronister is a Florida Sheriff in Hillsborough County and received the nod from President-elect Donald Trump earlier this week.

"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," the post concluded.

While Chronister did not give a reason for his withdrawal, the move came in the wake of conservative pushback to his enforcement of lockdown orders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This sheriff ordered the arrest of a pastor for holding services during the COVID panic. He was tapped by Trump to head the DEA," wrote Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. "Glad to see him withdraw from consideration. Next time politicians lose their ever-lovin minds, he can redeem himself by following the Constitution."