Concerns over COVID record sunk Trump’s DEA chief nominee

Following concerns over Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister’s COVID-19 lockdown and vaccine policies, the law enforcement official withdrew from consideration for Drug Enforcement Agency administrator after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him.

After Trump nominated Chronister as the Drug Enforcement Agency administrator on Saturday, concerns from conservatives and Republicans were raised over the sheriff’s COVID policy history, such as arresting a pastor for hosting in-person Sunday services. Those same critics were glad to see Chronister withdraw from the nomination on Tuesday.

In Trump’s announcement of Chronister’s nomination to the DEA, he wrote, "I am pleased to nominate Sheriff Chad Chronister as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

"For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE."

Chronister responded to the nomination on X on Saturday, writing, “It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President [Donald Trump] to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation.”

However, Chronister withdrew from the nomination in a statement he released on Tuesday. “To have been nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. 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.

“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.”

Chronister is the second of Trump’s nominees to withdraw his name from consideration. Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz was nominated for attorney general, but the Republican withdrew from his nomination last month, saying his “confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition."

FBI whistleblower Garret O’Boyle responded to Chronister announcing his withdrawal on X on Tuesday. “Outpouring of support? Uh, no. There was not an outpouring of support. There was a realization that you are a tyrant and advocate of woke policies,” O’Boyle wrote. “Hopefully the people of Hillsborough County will be smart enough to elect someone else as soon as possible.”

Conservative talk radio host Dana Loesch also responded to the news of Chronister withdrawing himself from the nomination.

“Good,” Loesch wrote on X on Tuesday. ”The harsh lockdown enforcement and arrest of a pastor was too much to consider elevating him beyond this current position.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., had criticized Chronister’s nomination over the weekend.

“I’m going to call ‘em like I see ‘em. Trump’s nominee for head of DEA should be disqualified for ordering the arrest a pastor who defied COVID lockdowns,” Massie posted on X on Sunday.

The congressman reacted to Chronister’s withdrawal on Tuesday.

“This sheriff ordered the arrest of a pastor for holding services during the COVID panic. He was tapped by Trump to head the DEA. Glad to see him withdraw from consideration. Next time politicians lose their ever-lovin minds, he can redeem himself by following the Constitution,” Massie posted on his X account on Tuesday.

Chronister implemented several controversial COVID policies. In September 2021, he attempted to have his deputies vaccinated by having them to use their accrued time if they became ill.

“Trying to do everything we can without mandating the vaccine, doing everything we can to encourage people to get vaccinated,” Chronister told a local NBC News affiliate in September 2021.

“Stop listening to the politicians. Start listening to the medical professionals and the scientists and get vaccinated,” he added. “If you don’t want to do it for yourself do it for your coworkers, do it for your family and do it to stay alive.”

“I put out a policy a while ago that if you are unvaccinated and you have to quarantine or you get ill you have to use your own accrued time. If you are vaccinated and you get sick the sheriff’s office will cover your time off,” Chronister said.

In March 2020, Chronister released 165 jail inmates over social distancing.

“Covid-19 Precautions: With Chief Judge Ronald Ficarrotta this morning to announce the release of 165 low level, non-violent, pre-trial inmates as a measure to protect our detention deputies, their families, our inmate population, and ultimately our community,” Chronister posted on his X account at the time.

“The low level, non-violent, pre-trial inmates that were released to mitigate the potential spread of Covid-19 within our jail population, will still have to answer for the alleged crimes they were arrested for,” Chronister later added.

One of those inmates shot and killed a person in Tampa a week later and was arrested for second-degree murder, resisting an officer with violence, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also in March 2020, Chronister had Rodney Howard-Browne, pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, arrested for holding Sunday services with hundreds of people in attendance and not maintaining social distancing.

“I believe there is nothing more important than faith at a time like this, and as a Sheriff’s Office, we would never impede on someone’s ability to lean on their religious beliefs as a means of comfort,” Chronister said in a statement at the time, “but practicing those beliefs has to be done safely.”

“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger,” Chronister added. “The River at Tampa Bay has an advantage over most places of worship, because they have access to technology that allows them to live stream their services over the internet and broadcast television for the more than 4,000 members to watch from the safety of their homes.”

“Our goal here is not to stop anyone from worshipping, but the safety and well being of our community must always come first,” he said.

Following Howard-Browne’s arrest, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued a stay-at-home executive order that allowed churches and houses of worship to hold in-person services. As a result, Chronister could no longer prevent Howard-Browne’s church from meeting in person.

Chronister met with Howard-Browne and his wife for dinner at their house in April, which the sheriff said was for “proactive community policing,” including discussing how to safely reopen the county.

Then in May, the Hillsborough state attorney, along with Chronister, announced the charges against Howard-Browne were being dropped. “The State Attorney’s Office has recognized that compliance and not criminal punishment is the focus of our emergency health laws,” Chronister said in a statement. “Law enforcement’s intervention through arrest has been rare during this health crisis, and while it remains a necessary tool to protect the health and safety of our community, we agree that further criminal sanctions are not necessary in this instance."

Despite the arrest, the pastor and Chronister remain friends.

Howard-Browne posted on X a letter he sent to Trump on Monday, recommending Chronister for DEA administrator.

“Chad Chronister has been my friend for many years, through good times and challenges,” Howard-Browne wrote. “I truly believe he acted with the intention of doing the right thing, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how he has learned and grown from those experiences.”

In April 2020, Chronister announced that boats should also follow social distancing.

“While everyone should be limiting their movement during the Covid-19 health crisis, outdoor recreation is still possible, even on our waterways, boaters please remember to keep 50ft between your boat and other boats and follow [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines,” Chronister said.

The Hillsborough County sheriff’s office responded to a request for comment from Just the News on Tuesday by sending Chronister’s statement regarding his withdrawal from the DEA nomination.