Thomas Massie lone Republican calling out Trump’s DEA pick

Trump named Florida’s Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister to run the DEA Saturday, further rounding out his Cabinet before his inauguration. Massie took to X Sunday to remind his followers that Chronister once enforced strict COVID-19 policies.

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“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.

Chronister held a press conference in March 2020 to announce that he’d arrested Dr. Ronald Howard-Browne, Pastor of The River at Tampa Bay Church, because he “intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger.” His post is still live on X.

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However, Florida Republicans stood up for Chronister, claiming he was the right pick. Among them was Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who appointed Chronister as sheriff when he was Florida’s governor.

“His work over the last 7 years shows Chad’s dedication to cracking down on crime, fighting the fentanyl crisis, and showing up every day to keep Floridians safe,” Scott wrote.

“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,” Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody wrote.

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“Sheriff Chronister has been working to keep our local community safe for over 32 years,” Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) wrote. “I know he will serve our country well as DEA Administrator and he will fight to secure our border and keep illegal drugs out of our communities.”

The Senate nominates a president’s Cabinet, leaving Massie with little influence over the matter. Within the hour of Massie’s post, he received over 18,000 likes for calling out Chronister.