Trump’s DEA pick – who locked up a pastor during COVID-19 pandemic –  withdraws from consideration after conservative backlash

President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Drug Enforcement Agency announced Tuesday that he will not take the job following conservative backlash to his nomination. 

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister – described by some conservatives as a “COVID tyrant” – bowed out just three days after being selected by Trump to lead the nation’s primary agency for combatting illegal drugs. 

“To have been nominated by President-Elect Donald Trump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime,” Chronister said in a statement.

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“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,” the veteran cop added. “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’s record as Hillsborough County sheriff – particularly at the height of the COVID-19 – came under scrutiny soon after his nomination. 

On March 30, 2020, Chronister ordered the arrest of Ronald Howard-Browne, the pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, for allegedly flouting COVID-19 lockdown orders by holding services at his church. 

Howard-Browne “intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger,” Chronister tweeted at the time. 

The pastor was charged with unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules. Both charges – second-degree misdemeanors –  were later dropped.

“The State Attorney’s Office has recognized that compliance and not criminal punishment is the focus of our emergency health laws,” Chronister said after Howard-Browne arrest.

“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.”

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 Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) both slammed Chronister’s nomination.

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

“We don’t need authoritarians who refuse to use discretion and protect the Constitution — no matter which party is in power,” Roy told Fox News Digital. 

Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler argued that Chronister “abused” his authority by arresting  Howard-Browne and is “unfit” to head the DEA. 

“Chad Chronister is a COVID tyrant who arrested a Christian pastor for holding church in person during the pandemic,” she wrote on X.

“Chronister held a press conference bragging about the arrest. Chronister abused his power; he’s unfit to lead the DEA. Trump should withdraw his nomination.”

Howard-Browne, despite his arrest, supported Chronister’s nomination 

“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,” the pastor wrote on X. “Shortly after my arrest, Sheriff Chronister called me and told me he truly missed our friendship. We met for dinner at my house and we were able to restore the friendship we had, one I will always cherish.”

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“His vision, resolve, and leadership make him the ideal candidate to lead the DEA,” Howard-Browne added. 

Trump touted Chronister’s “countless commendations and awards” as a law enforcement official and his public safety record and efforts to stamp out human trafficking, in his nomination announcement Saturday. 

“Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES,” the president-elect added. 

The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.