President Trump’s Pick to Head DEA Withdraws Himself from Consideration
Pennsylvania Representative Tom Marino, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the DEA and take over the unofficially titled “drug czar” position, has officially withdrawn himself from consideration.
Pennsylvania Representative Tom Marino.
In a Twitter post made this morning, President Trump made it clear that Representative Marino is removing himself from consideration for the position of Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, often referred to as the “drug czar”.
“Rep.Tom Marino has informed me that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as drug czar”, Trump said in the Tweet posted around 5:30am (PT). “Tom is a fine man and a great Congressman!”
Marino’s withdrawal comes after a report by both the Washington Post and 60 Minutes. The report, titled THE DRUG INDUSTRY’S TRIUMPH OVER THE DEA, connected Marino with legislation that has caused a worsening of the nation’s opioid crisis by making it more challenging for the DEA to keep control of the pharmaceutical industry.
When asked about the selection of Marino to head the DEA during a press conference on Monday, President Trump said “we are gonna look into the report and we are gonna take it very seriously”.
Senator Jo Manchin (West Virginia), sent a letter to Donald Trump the same day, stating that Marino “has tied the hands of the DEA in their efforts to enforce out nation’s laws.”
“I urge you to withdraw the nomination of Congressman Tom Marino to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy,” said Manchin.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also expressed issued with Marino, stating that; “Confirming Rep. Marino as our nation’s drug czar is like putting the wolf in charge of the hen house. The American people deserve someone totally committed to fighting the opioid crisis, not someone who’s labored on behalf of the drug industry.”