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President Trump’s Pick to Head DEA Withdraws Himself from Consideration

October 17, 2017

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Donald Trump’s pick to head the DEA and take over the unofficially titled “drug czar” position, has officially withdrawn himself from consideration.

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.

Justice Department Names New DEA Acting Administrator

October 4, 2017

**The Department of Justice has officially designated Robert W. Patterson as the Drug Enforcement Administration acting administrator.**

New DEA Acting Administrator Robert W. Patterson.

Patterson’s appointment comes after the resignation of now-former DEA Chief Chuck Rosenberg, who stepped down because he feels President Trump doesn’t respect the law. Patterson was appointed as DEA’s principal deputy administrator in November 2016. In that role, he served as DEA’s chief operating officer, overseeing all of the agency’s enforcement, intelligence, administrative, and regulatory activities worldwide. He is the highest ranking career special agent at DEA.

Patterson came to this position after serving as DEA’s chief inspector beginning in November 2015. As the chief inspector, he had oversight of the Office of Inspections, the Office of Security Programs, and the Office of Professional Responsibility. Collectively, these offices comprise DEA’s internal affairs, compliance, and security programs and provide guidance and support to DEA Headquarters and Field Offices.

DEA Chief Resigning by Week’s End

September 26, 2017

**Chuck Rosenberg, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will resign at the end of the week, according to law enforcement officials.**

According to a report today by the New York Times, Rosenberg plans to retire as he’s become convinced that President Trump has little respect for the law. Rosenberg, who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2015, has twice served as chief of staff to the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey, who was fired by Trump in May.

Rosenberg’s exit doesn’t come as much surprise; In late July he reportedly told the deputy attorney general, Rod J. Rosenstein that he did not want to be considered as the permanent administrator of the DEA.