President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks continue to make waves. Chad Chronister, whom Trump has selected to head the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), is drawing renewed criticism for ordering the arrest of a megachurch pastor in 2020 for violating COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders.
Chronister has been the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, for seven years.
“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,” Trump said in an announcement on Nov. 30.
“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,” Trump said. “Congratulations to Chad, his wife Nikki, and two wonderful sons!”
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Chronister expressed his excitement in a post of his own, calling his nomination an “honor of a lifetime.”
“I am deeply humbled by this opportunity to serve our nation,” Chronister said.
However, Chronister’s decision to enforce safety restrictions in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic is becoming a key talking point in the wake of his nomination.
In March 2020, Chronister ordered the arrest of Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne of The River at Tampa Bay Church after Howard-Browne refused to comply with pandemic-related safety measures restricting large gatherings.
“Our goal is not to stop people from worshiping,” Chronister said at the time, “but the safety and well being of our community must always come first.”
The Hillsborough County Council later voted to loosen its pandemic restrictions for churches, and the charges against Howard-Browne were dropped.
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