HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced Tuesday evening that he was withdrawing his nomination to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
However, President-elect Donald Trump stated Wednesday that the decision was not Chronister’s but his own, saying he removed Chronister from consideration.
Chronister’s withdrawal, announced via social media, came just days after Trump nominated him for the federal position. While the sheriff cited personal reasons for stepping aside, Trump revealed a different narrative, claiming the withdrawal was forced.
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“The Wall Street Journal ran a headline saying my ‘DEA Pick Pulls Out in Latest Setback.’ That’s wrong,” Trump said in a statement. “He didn’t pull out—I pulled him out because I didn’t like what he said to my pastors and other supporters.”
Trump took particular issue with The Wall Street Journal’s characterization of the situation, calling the reporting biased and emblematic of a broader trend in the media.
“With all that’s happening in the world, this is their number one story of the day?” Trump said. He also dismissed the notion that this represented a “setback,” pointing to his recent electoral victory. “What’s my ‘latest’ setback? I just won the Presidency of the United States!” he added, accusing the media of focusing on controversies rather than his administration’s accomplishments.
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On Wednesday, Chronister’s office released a statement refuting Trump’s claim.
“Sheriff Chronister stands behind his decision to withdraw from consideration. Right now, his priority, as it has been for the last seven years, remains the mission to protect and serve everyone in Hillsborough County,” said Amanda Granit, Chief Communications officer with Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Chronister, who has served as Hillsborough County Sheriff since 2017, was lauded for his leadership in combating drug-related crime and human trafficking. His nomination had drawn praise from law enforcement leaders across Florida.
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