President-elect Donald Trump used a “forceful hand” to get his Drug Enforcement Agency pick to drop out on Tuesday after hearing “concerns” about his record, sources familiar told The Post — leading outgoing Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) to make a bid for the position.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister issued a lengthy statement indicating he was withdrawing his name for the DEA slot — but did not reveal the specific reason he was dropping out of the confirmation process after just three days.
“Everyone knows President Trump calls the shots,” a well-placed source spilled. “The President heard the concerns about Sheriff Chronister and acted accordingly.”
“It was the president’s forceful hand that led him to remove his name,” a second source said.
Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Chip Roy (R-Texas) had lambasted Chronister for having arrested Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic for breaking lockdown mandates by holding worship services at his church.
The second source disclosed that Trump, 78, “was very displeased with the revelations about his arrest of the pastor and some of his other actions that he took as a sheriff.”
“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,” the source added.
Chronister had also spoken about his arrest of the pastor at the time, tweeting that Howard-Browne “intentionally and repeatedly disregarded state and local public health orders, which put his congregation and our community in danger.”
Those remarks about the arrest also did not please Trump, the second source said.
Howard-Browne was charged with violation of public health emergency rules and unlawful assembly — but the offenses were later dropped. He languished in jail a day before paying a $500 bond.
D’Esposito — who lost his re-election bid in November for New York’s Fourth Congressional District on Long Island to Democrat Laura Gillen — is quickly trying to make inroads to fill the spot.
“President Trump has a mandate from the people of this country to Make America Safe Again, and I would be honored to lend my experience as a decorated NYPD Detective and member of the House Homeland Security Committee to assist President Trump in that mission,” the rep said in a statement.
Trump’s team declined to comment on D’Esposito’s bid, but the departing Republican pol has already earned the backing of the Nassau County Detectives Association.
“@realDonaldTrump should nominate @RepDesposito a highly decorated @NYPDDetectives & proven crime fighter as @DEAHQ Administrator,” the police union posted in a statement on X.
“As a respected member of Congress, D’Esposito has demonstrated leadership & commitment needed to help DJT in his goal of Making America Safe Again.”
Chronister’s withdrawal was a bit of a shock — despite being the second resignation from Trump’s administration team after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) bowed out as the next attorney general after he couldn’t secure enough Senate GOP votes for confirmation.
“Over the past several days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility set in, I’ve concluded that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister had written in his statement.
“There is more work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and a lot of initiatives I am committed to fulfilling,” he added.
“I sincerely appreciate the nomination, outpouring of support by the American people, and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County.”
Chronister did not immediately respond to an inquiry from The Post.
