‘COVIDian sheriff’ nominated by Trump for DEA chief bows out

PALM BEACH, Florida – Chad Chronister, the Tampa-area sheriff nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to head the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, bowed out of consideration Tuesday evening after pressure from conservatives for his arrest of a Christian pastor during lockdowns amid the COVID pandemic.

The sheriff of Hillsbourough County said on X: “To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. 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.

“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.”

To have been nominated by President-Elect @realDonaldTrump to serve as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is the honor of a lifetime. Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully… pic.twitter.com/bvNF8m9Bh4

— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) December 3, 2024

On Saturday, Trump nominated Chronister, saying he would work with his attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, “to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border.”

As reported Sunday, in March 2020, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released a press statement revealing that they had arrested local Tampa Bay church pastor Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne on two second-degree misdemeanors for unlawful assembly and violation of public health emergency rules. In a post on X from the Libertarian Party of Mississippi, the group called out Chronister’s decision to arrest Howard-Browne, leading Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie to respond as well.

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

I’m going to call ‘em like I see ‘em. Trump’s nominee for head of DEA should be disqualified for ordering the arrest a pastor who defied COVID lockdowns. https://t.co/pHSmGr81Tz

— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 1, 2024

Conservative podcasters the Hodge Twins and journalist Mike Cernovich also called out Trump’s choice on X, highlighting Chronister’s COVID-19 stances at the time of the incident.

This guy can’t be the DEA leader @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/OsKOlFmhA0

— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) December 1, 2024

Trump’s choice for DEA discriminated against unvaccinated law enforcement officers under his command. pic.twitter.com/xCEiZWYQyX

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) December 1, 2024

Media personality John Cardillo wrote on X that he had deleted his original post praising the Florida Sheriff after remembering that he is a “COVIDian Sheriff who arrested a pastor during services because ‘COVID’ to be prosecuted by Andrew Warren, the Soros funded prosecutor DeSantis removed from Office.”

Deleted my post supporting Chronister as Trump’s DEA Adminitrator pick.

I completely forgot that Chronister is COVIDian Sheriff who arrested a pastor during services because “COVID” to be prosecuted by Andrew Warren, the Soros funded prosecutor DeSantis removed from Office.

— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) December 1, 2024

While Chronister had taken to social media to publicly thank Trump for the nomination and stated that he is “deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation,” podcaster Tim Pool instead called for him to serve prison time.

Let’s revisit this after he serves prison time for conspiracy against rights for arresting a pastor during covid lockdowns https://t.co/Fl4JLCBIzO

— Tim Pool (@Timcast) December 1, 2024

At the time of Howard-Browne’s arrest, Chronister stated that while faith is important and authorities “would never impede on someone’s ability to lean on their religious beliefs as a means of comfort,” those practicing their beliefs must do so “safely.”

“His reckless disregard for human life put hundreds of people in his congregation at risk and thousands of residents who may interact with them this week in danger,” Chronister said. “The River at Tampa Bay has an advantage over most places of worship, because they have access to technology that allows them to live stream their services over the internet and broadcast television for the more than 4,000 members to watch from the safety of their homes.”

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In addition to the local pastor’s arrest, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office released 164 inmates in March 2020 to help slow the spread of COVID-19 at the county jail.

“We want to protect our employees here. We want to protect the remainder of the jail population. We also feel these low-level, non-violent offenders will be better served at home with their families,” Chronister said at the time.

However, only a day after their release, one of the inmates, 26-year-old Joseph Edwards Williams, was arrested again on charges of second-degree murder in connection to a homicide along with charges of felony firearm possession, heroin possession and resisting arrest.

“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.”

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeKovacsNews

‘COVIDian sheriff’: Conservatives slam Trump’s DEA pick over what he did during pandemic