President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister as the next administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has sparked mixed reactions among conservatives.
While Chronister has received praise for his experience and leadership, criticism has emerged regarding his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Saturday, Trump announced Chronister’s nomination, highlighting the sheriff’s commitment to tackling the nation’s drug crisis.
“Sheriff Chad Chronister will work with Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border,” Trump stated.
The announcement drew immediate support from some colleagues and stakeholders in law enforcement, who pointed to Chronister’s extensive experience as a positive attribute for the role.
However, concerns from some conservatives have surfaced, particularly regarding Chronister’s actions during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2020, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, under Chronister’s leadership, arrested Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne, a local Tampa Bay pastor, on charges of unlawful assembly and violating public health emergency rules after the pastor held services in defiance of lockdown 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 Chad Chronister on March 29, 2020, “but practicing those beliefs has to be done safely.”
The sheriff’s office worked with then-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.
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The arrest led to criticism from civil liberties advocates at the time and has resurfaced in light of Chronister’s DEA nomination.
The Libertarian Party of Mississippi weighed in on Chronister’s nomination on social media, criticizing his role in the arrest of Howard-Browne, “Trump’s nominee for DEA arrested a pastor for having the audacity to…checks notes…hold church service.”
“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,” Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie responded on X.
In addition to the arrest of the pastor during lockdowns, Joseph Edwards Williams, was released from Hillsborough County Jail on March 19th, 2020, under an administrative order aimed at reducing the jail population during the pandemic.
He was one of 164 inmates considered low-level and non-violent offenders who were released pending trial. This decision was made in conjunction with the release of the pastor who was also incarcerated at the time.
Tragically, just one day after his release, Williams committed a homicide in the Progress Village area of Tampa. Deputies responded to reports of gunshots and found a man dead at the scene.
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“There is no question Joseph Williams took advantage of this health emergency to commit crimes while he was out of jail awaiting resolution of a low-level, non-violent offense,” Chronister said after the incident. “As a result, I call on the State Attorney to prosecute this defendant to the fullest extent of the law.”
Conservative influencers and podcasters, the Hodgetwins said on X, “Not only should
@ChadChronister not be the DEA director, the dude should be investigated for crimes against his own people.”
Additionally, at the height of the BLM riots in Tampa on June 27, 2020, rioters assembled at the Hillsborough County Jail on Orient Road and began to rip down the gate at the jail’s Sally Port, where prisoners are brought into the facility.
Jail deputies were ordered to stand-down as they watched rioters destroy public property. No arrests were made. One detention deputy at the jail told TFP reporter Chis Ingram at the time, “It was ridiculous that we were not allowed to do anything, and no one was arrested, and it has deeply affected morale.”
Critics argue that the incidents raises questions about Chronister’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights, with some suggesting his actions during the lockdowns could alienate parts of Trump’s base.
Despite the criticism, Chronister’s supporters have pointed to his decades of experience in law enforcement and his efforts to address public safety issues in Florida.
One of those supporters is Pastor Rodney-Howard Browne himself.
On Sunday, Pastor Howard-Browne took to X and said, “Watch this space – at 7pm I will post a video of myself and Sheriff @ChadChronister – we have been friends all along! Before and after my arrest. I endorse him for his nominated position and the administration of the @DEAHQ by @realDonaldTrump the 47th President of the USA.”
In addition, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody praised Chronister, calling him an “outstanding sheriff.”
Congratulations to my friend and my outstanding sheriff,
“Chad Chronister on being appointed DEA Administrator. Chad has fought on the frontlines of the opioid crisis, and I know his leadership and decades of experience will be invaluable as we work to combat the flow of Mexican fentanyl into our county,” said Moody on X.
As the head of the DEA, he would be tasked with combating the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic, particularly the influx of fentanyl and other illegal drugs.
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