Trump nixes DEA pick after controversial pastor arrest resurfaces: Report

Dec 5

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Video Editor)

President-elect Donald Trump is criticizing The Wall Street Journal’s report on the withdrawal of his nominee for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The newspaper called the withdrawal a “setback.”

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Trump nominated Florida Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the DEA. Three days later, Chronister posted on social media that he was stepping down from consideration.

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In response to the Journal’s report, Trump posted on Truth Social.

“With all that’s happening in the world, this is their number one story of the day,” Trump wrote. “Besides, he didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters. But, more importantly, what’s my ‘latest’ setback? I just won the presidency of the United States!”

Controversy quickly overshadowed Chronister’s nomination. Conservatives raised concerns about the pick after the resurfacing of Chronister’s involvement in the arrest of Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne. Officers arrested Howard-Browne during the pandemic for violating public health orders after holding church services in defiance of lockdown measures.

While the charges against Howard-Browne were later dropped, sources told the New York Post that Trump was unhappy when he learned Chronister had defended the arrest. Trump said the pastor “put his congregation and our community in danger.”

“Arresting pastors for trying to keep their churches open is a non-negotiable with the president, and that’s what the sheriff was accused of, and the president did not like that,” one source told the Post.

Sources said Trump decided to remove Chronister from consideration after hearing from lawmakers. They include Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Chip Roy, R-Texas, who criticized the sheriff for the arrest.

Chronister’s office issued a statement refuting Trump’s claims, reaffirming that he chose to withdraw from the nomination.

With Chronister out of the running, former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito of New York is a potential contender. However, Trump’s team has not made any announcements regarding a new pick to head the DEA.

Tags: COVID-19, Donald Trump, Drug Enforcement Administration, Florida, Wall Street Journal

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP IS CRITICIZING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL’S REPORT ON HIS DEA NOMINEE’S WITHDRAWAL FROM CONSIDERATION – THE JOURNAL CALLING IT A “SETBACK”.

FLORIDA COUNTY SHERIFF – CHAD CHRONISTER – WAS NOMINATED BY TRUMP TO LEAD THE DEA – BUT THREE DAYS LATER – POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HE WAS BOWING OUT.

TRUMP POSTED ON TRUTH SOCIAL IN RESPONSE TO THE JOURNAL’S REPORT –

“With all that’s happening in the World, this is their Number One story of the day. Besides, he didn’t pull out, I pulled him out, because I did not like what he said to my pastors and other supporters. But, more importantly, what’s my “latest” setback??? I just won the Presidency of the United States!”

IN THE SHORT TIME THAT CHRONISTER WAS THE CHOSEN GUY TO LEAD THE DEA –

CONTROVERSY SURROUNDED THE PICK –

WITH **CONSERVATIVES QUESTIONING TRUMP’S CHOICE AFTER THE RESURFACING OF A PASTOR’S ARREST DURING THE PANDEMIC – LED BY CHRONISTER.

Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne WAS ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS AFTER HOLDING CHURCH SERVICES DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE CHARGES AGAINST THE PASTOR WERE LATER DROPPED –

BUT ACCORDING TO SOURCES WHO SPOKE WITH THE NEW YORK POST –

TRUMP WAS “UNHAPPY” LEARNING CHRONISTER DEFENDED THE ARREST AT THE TIME – SAYING THE PASTOR “PUT HIS CONGREGATION AND OUR COMMUNITY IN DANGER.”

A SOURCE WHO SPOKE WITH THE POST SAID –

“Arresting pastors for trying to keep their churches open is a non-negotiable with the president, and that’s what the sheriff was accused of, and the president did not like that.”

SOURCES SAY TRUMP’S DECISION TO REMOVE CHRONISTER WAS MADE AFTER HE HEARD FROM CONCERNED LAWMAKERS – INCLUDING CONGRESSMEN THOMAS MASSIE AND CHIP ROY –

WHO CRITICIZED THE SHERIFF OVER THE PASTOR’S ARREST.

CHRONISTER’S OFFICE RELEASED A STATEMENT REFUTING TRUMP’S CLAIMS OF HIM BEING PUSHED OUT OF THE BID – REITERATING HIS DECISION TO WITHDRAW.

WITH CHRONISTER OUT OF THE RUNNING –

FORMER CONGRESSMAN ANTHONY D’ESPOSITO FROM NEW YORK IS SAID TO BE A POTENTIAL CONTENDER.

THOUGH TRUMP’S TEAM HAS NOT MADE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING A NEW PICK TO RUN THE DEA.

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