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President Trump On DEA Pick: “I Pulled Him Out”
President Trump said on Wednesday that he pulled the nomination of Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister for Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) administrator.
“The Wall Street Journal is becoming more and more obnoxious and unreadable. Today’s main headline is: “Trump’s DEA Pick Pulls Out In Latest Setback.” With all that’s happening in the World, this is their Number One story of the day. Besides, he didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“But, more importantly, what’s my ‘latest’ setback??? I just won the Presidency of the United States! They haven’t written a good story about me in YEARS. Somebody over there ought to look at what they’re doing. The only one worse than them is stupid, China-centric Forbes Magazine!” he added.
Just in: President Trump says he pulled Chad Chronister's nomination as DEA Director saying: “He didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my Pastors and other supporters.” pic.twitter.com/3fqv6LpXvI
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) December 4, 2024
A closer look:
“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 said Tuesday.
“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,” he added.
To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump 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… pic.twitter.com/bvNF8m9Bh4
— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) December 3, 2024
A closer look:
From the New York Post:
President-elect Donald Trump used a “forceful hand” to get his Drug Enforcement Agency pick to drop out on Tuesday after hearing “concerns” about the Floridian’s record, sources familiar told The Post — leading outgoing Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) to make a bid for the position.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister issued a lengthy statement indicating he was withdrawing his name for the DEA slot — but did not reveal the specific reason he was dropping out of the confirmation process after just three days.
“Everyone knows President Trump calls the shots,” a well-placed source spilled. “The president heard the concerns about Sheriff Chronister and acted accordingly.”
“It was the president’s forceful hand that led him to remove his name,” a second source said.
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) had lambasted Chronister for having arrested Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for breaking lockdown mandates by holding worship services at his church.
The second source disclosed that Trump, 78, “was very displeased with the revelations about his arrest of the pastor and some of his other actions that he took as a sheriff.”
Chronister faced vicious backlash from conservatives regarding his actions during the COVID-19 scamdemic.
“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,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said.
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. https://t.co/pHSmGr81Tz
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 1, 2024
“Announcing the arrest of Dr. Ronald Howard-Browne, Pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, who intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger,” Chronister said in March 2020.
Announcing the arrest of Dr. Ronald Howard-Browne, Pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, who intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger. pic.twitter.com/1gERVdzyIp
— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) March 30, 2020
Here’s a screenshot:
“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 press release about the arrest of the pastor.
“But practicing those beliefs has to be done safely,” he added.
Church pastor arrested for violating county COVID-19 orders
“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,” said Sheriff… https://t.co/2ITVlKUrRB pic.twitter.com/cynEs2h0VV
— Max (@MaxNordau) December 1, 2024
From the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in March 2020:
The Sheriff’s Office made contact with leaders at the River at Tampa Bay Church on Friday, March 27, following an anonymous tip that Pastor Howard-Browne refused requests to temporarily stop holding large gatherings at his church. Instead, the pastor was encouraging his congregation to continue to meet in person.
His actions were a direct violation of Executive Order 20-05, which went into effect on March 20, limiting gatherings, including faith-based gatherings, to less than 10 people. He was also violating the Safer-At-Home Order, which went into effect on March 27, advising Hillsborough County residents to remain in their homes as much as possible to create greater social distancing and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
On Friday, and again on Sunday, Sheriff’s Office personnel and legal staff spoke with attorneys representing the church in an attempt to educate them on the orders in place and the dangerous environment they were creating for their members and the community. Neither the pastor nor his church leaders heeded the warnings.
“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,” said Sheriff Chronister. “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.”
Pastor Howard-Browne hosted services in his church with hundreds of people at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday and even provided bus transportation to the church.
Due to his disregard for public safety after repeated requests and warnings, HCSO worked with State Attorney Andrew Warren to obtain a warrant for Pastor Howard-Browne’s arrest on Monday morning, March 30. Pastor Howard-Browne was arrested at his home in Hernando County around 1:30 p.m. the same day.
“Our goal here is not to stop anyone from worshipping, but the safety and well being of our community must always come first,” said Sheriff Chronister.
Chronister also withheld covered time off from unvaccinated law enforcement officers who became ill during COVID-19.
“Trying to do everything we can without mandating the vaccine, doing everything we can to encourage people to get vaccinated,” Chronister said in 2021, according to WFLA.
Per WFLA:
“Stop listening to the politicians. Start listening to the medical professionals and the scientists and get vaccinated,” Chronister said. “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.”
The most recent data from the Florida Department of Health shows for the week of Aug. 20 through August 26 there were more than 151,000 new COVID-19 cases in our state. That week’s covid deaths were recorded at 1,727 which is up from the previous week’s report of 1,486.
In the Tampa Bay area, multiple police departments and sheriff’s offices have lost law enforcement members because of COVID-19. Something that Sheriff Chronister is very aware of.
“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,” said Chronister.
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