Trumps 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.“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 intervent...