At a press briefing held at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office on August 4, 2022, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister expressed his backing for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to suspend Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren.
In a surprising turn, Chad Chronister, a notable pick by President-elect Donald Trump for the head position at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced his intention to step back from being considered for the role. As of Tuesday, this makes him the second individual to decline a nomination from Trump following in the steps of former Representative Matt Gaetz, who withdrew his bid for Attorney General the previous month.
Chronister expressed his gratitude for the nomination in a post on X, referring to it as “the honor of a lifetime.” However, he shared that after careful reflection on the significant responsibilities entailed, he had decided to withdraw from the process. He emphasized his commitment to ongoing projects in Hillsborough County, hinting at the initiatives he remains dedicated to completing.
A representative from Trump’s transition team was unavailable for immediate comment.
Trump had chosen Chronister for the DEA position—a role within the Department of Justice needing Senate approval—just this past weekend. On Truth Social, Trump highlighted Chronister’s potential to collaborate with Attorney General Pam Bondi to address the border crisis, focusing on combating the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs while prioritizing saving lives.
Chronister initially expressed deep humility at the prospect of serving the country in this capacity. With a longstanding career in law enforcement, starting when he was appointed sheriff by former Governor Rick Scott in 2017, Chronister has dedicated 28 years to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Despite former Governor Scott’s strong endorsement, not all within the Republican party were enthusiastic about his selection for the DEA role, with some welcoming his decision to step down. Representative Thomas Massie criticized Chronister on X for his role in the controversial 2020 arrest of Rodney Howard-Browne, a Florida pastor charged for holding services in defiance of pandemic orders.
Massie remarked on the social media platform, pointing out the pastor’s arrest during COVID and expressing relief at Chronister’s withdrawal from the DEA nomination. He suggested that Chronister could redeem himself in future constitutional challenges.
When asked about the impact of the criticism on his decision, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office directed inquiries to Chronister’s official statement on X, without further comment. Back in March 2020, Chronister articulated the rationale behind seeking the pastor’s arrest, citing the peril it posed both to his congregation and to thousands potentially exposed in the community.
Chronister joins a list of Trump nominees who have declined to continue through the nomination process. Previously, in a separate case, Matt Gaetz removed himself from Attorney General consideration following allegations of misconduct, which he has consistently denied.
