Trump Taps Hillsborough County Sheriff Chronister for DEA Administrator

President-elect Donald Trump (R) has appointed Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister as the next Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) administrator. He will need to be confirmed by the Senate.

This move from President-elect Trump appears to be reinforcing a pattern as a large amount of his cabinet positions have come from the State of Florida, such as Senator Marco Rubio (Secretary of State), Representative Mike Waltz (National Security Advisor), and Pam Bondi (Attorney General) among others.

Trump said the following about Sheriff Chronister on Saturday:

"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."

Trump continued by sharing Chonrister's credentials.

"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," said Trump. "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 is not afraid nor shy of the spotlight. In 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) suspended Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren for "neglect of duty."

As The Floridian reported, Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Warren in August of 2022 for his refusal to prosecute individuals who violated Florida's new 15-week abortion ban. Additionally, he would supposedly not enforce prohibitions on sex change surgery for minors. "Individual prosecutors take it upon themselves to decide which laws they like and will enforce, and which laws they don't like and won't enforce," DeSantis justifies his position, adding that Warren "put himself above the law."

At the time, Chronister shared that he favored Gov. DeSantis' decision, saying Warren is "intently focused on empathy for criminals and less interested in pursuing justice for crime victims."