President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of Sheriff Chad Chronister as his nominee for Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator has sparked a fierce backlash among conservatives, who are raising serious concerns about Chronister’s record, particularly his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his perceived alignment with leftist policies.
On Sunday, Trump announced his nomination of Chronister with a glowing endorsement:
I am pleased to nominate Sheriff Chad Chronister for Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). For over 32 years, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and received countless commendations and awards for keeping his community SAFE.
A proud graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 260th Session, Chad is Co-Chairman of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay, Council Member of the Florida Attorney General’s Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Sub-Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Public Safety Coordinating Council, and Vice-Chairman of the Hillsborough County Public Schools Citizen Oversight Committee.
As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to secure the Border, stop the flow of Fentanyl, and other Illegal Drugs, across the Southern Border, and SAVE LIVES. Congratulations to Chad, his wife Nikki, and two wonderful sons!
Chronister responded enthusiastically on X, saying:
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President @realDonaldTrump to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation.”
It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President @realDonaldTrump to serve as the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation. pic.twitter.com/X5lslYyF1U
— Chad Chronister (@ChadChronister) December 1, 2024
While some colleagues lauded Chronister’s experience, many conservative voices have condemned the pick, pointing to his actions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his alignment with liberal policies.
Among the most controversial moments of Chronister’s career was the arrest of Tampa Bay Pastor Dr. Rodney Howard-Browne in March 2020.
The pastor was charged with violating public health orders after keeping his church open during COVID-19 lockdowns, despite spending $100,000 on advanced air filtration systems to ensure safety.
“Announcing the arrest of Dr. Ronald Howard-Browne, Pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, who intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger,” Chronister wrote at the time.
THIS MAN’S NOMINATION MUST BE BLOCKED
HE WAS A TYRANT DURING COVID
I HAD TO SUE HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY TO STOP THE INSANITY HE CREATED
WE NEED A DEA DIRECTOR WHO BELIEVES IN FREEDOM https://t.co/31jb3ZnWws
— Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) December 1, 2024
The arrest, celebrated by some as a public health measure, was condemned by conservatives as a blatant violation of religious liberty.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) added his voice to the growing wave of criticism, denouncing Chronister’s actions and demanding his disqualification.
“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,” Rep. Massie wrote.
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
US Army combat veteran Spence Rogers, a Tampa native, didn’t hold back, calling Chronister a “woke Democrat plant” who would “backstab President Trump.”
Under Chronister’s leadership, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has actively participated in the Tampa Pride event and established an LGBTQ liaison program.
In 2018, Sheriff Chronister made history as the first Hillsborough County Sheriff to join the parade.
In 2021, to mark the return of the parade after its cancellation due to COVID-19, he officially announced the implementation of the agency’s LGBTQ Liaison program, according to Rogers.
“We are lucky to live in a community like Hillsborough County that has so much diversity,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “There are so many opportunities to learn and grow from one another. This new liaison program will be a two-way street between the LGBTQ community and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. All of us here at HCSO look forward to building an even stronger bond with our community members.”
WATCH:
Chronister has expanded his office’s DEI programs, emphasizing diversity in recruitment efforts. In 2015, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office launched a recruitment effort focusing on diversity, aiming to better reflect the community it serves.
Tampa Bay Times reported:
The Emergency Community Help Organization’s first job fair last week was relatively small in scope, but the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office delivered a big presence: three recruiters and HCSO recruitment and screening manager Richard Lozada.
[…]
HCSO’s effort reflected its ongoing recruiting push — specifically for minorities, women and young adults — as it looks to add greater diversity to its ranks and maintain its connection with the community.
Lozada said with 4,000 employees, HCSO now stands as the nation’s seventh-largest sheriff’s office, yet they are still constantly on the search to fill both sworn and civilian positions.
Maj. Alan Hill, who heads HCSO’s District II patrol division, addressed the growing need for more dedicated men and women to join the agency at a Seffner Chamber of Commerce luncheon earlier this year, noting that the agency wants to hire more minorities, women and people from Hillsborough County.
According to Rogers, Chronister has a history of donating to Democratic candidates and organizations, including Barack Obama, Mayor Jane Castor, Congresswoman Kathy Castor, Congressman Charlie Crist, and the Democratic National Committee. These contributions have raised concerns about his political affiliations and loyalty to conservative principles.
Tampa Free Press reported:
Chronister is a flip-flopping opportunist. The former Democrat is running again as a Republican, but his background of support shows he still is a Democrat at heart. Chronister has given tens of thousands of dollars to Democrats including $15,000 to Barack Obama for President, and thousands to such assorted partisan Democrats including: Congressman Charlie Crist, Mayor Jane Castor, and Congresswoman Kathy Castor.
Chronister has also contributed at least $5,000 to the Democrat National Committee. In short, for someone with an “R” after his name, he looks curiously like a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Chad Chronister even gave 15,000 to Barack Obama! pic.twitter.com/Su7Kh0EaQy
— National File (@NationalFile) December 1, 2024
Chronister’s office released Joseph Williams, an inmate with 35 prior charges, as part of the 150 “low-level, non-violent” offenders during the COVID-19 pandemic, who then committed murder shortly after his release. The sheriff acknowledged that his agency did not check history prior to the release.
He let 165 criminals go because they couldn’t social distance in jail. https://t.co/TPkhbwFmtk
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) December 1, 2024
During the Black Lives Matter protests, his deputies were criticized for standing down as property was destroyed, including a gate at the county jail. Reports indicate that his office was slow to respond during the riots, while other sheriff’s offices in the state were more proactive.
Tampa Free Press reported:
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.”
Chronister supports red flag gun confiscation policies and has utilized them multiple times. In 2020, his office worked with the Tampa Police Department to serve a Risk Protection Order, a tool used to prevent individuals deemed a threat from accessing firearms.
According to the press release:
While in custody, the Tampa Police Department obtained a Risk Protection Order (RPO) on Kujawski. On Thursday, March 5, Kujawski made statements to a detention deputy with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office that he had numerous firearms at his home in Tampa and at a relative’s home in Gibsonton. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office served two search warrants where 28 firearms (handguns and long guns) were located, in addition to thousands of rounds of ammunition.
“I’m extremely grateful for the men and women of the Tampa Police Department and the everyday partnership we share in keeping our community safe. Fortunately, because of our Red Flag Law, a tragedy more than likely has been prevented, and this individual has an opportunity to get the help he needs,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister.
I am from Tampa Bay, Florida. I have followed Chad Chronister’s career and people are asking me why he is a bad pick to be head of DEA. Conservatives here do not support Chronister. Chronister is a woke and weak Democrat plant and will backstab President Trump. He cannot be… pic.twitter.com/AfGxiFXvIc
— Spence Rogers (@SpenceRogers) December 1, 2024
Given these actions and affiliations, conservatives are urging President Trump to reconsider Chronister’s nomination, arguing that his record does not align with the administration’s law-and-order agenda.
