CNN
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Chad Chronister, a Florida sheriff, has withdrawn from President-elect Donald Trump’s bid to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, he announced Tuesday.

“Over the past few days, as the gravity of this very important responsibility has increased, I have come to the conclusion that I must respectfully withdraw from consideration,” Chronister, the Hillsborough County sheriff, posted on X.

“There is still much work to be done for the citizens of Hillsborough County and there are many initiatives I would like to implement. “I greatly appreciate the nomination and the strong support of the American people and look forward to continuing my service as Sheriff of Hillsborough County,” he added.

The Trump transition team declined to comment.

Chronister has been sheriff for Hillsborough County — which includes the city of Tampa — since 2017, when he was appointed to the post by then-Gov. Rick Scott, according to his office’s website. He served in the sheriff’s office for 32 years and was twice re-elected as the county’s top law enforcement officer since 2017.

When Trump announced Chronister as his pick on Saturday, the president-elect said in a social media post: “As DEA Administrator, Chad will work with our great Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure the border, stop the flow of fentanyl and much more.” Illegal drugs, across the southern border, and SAVE LIVES.”

He is the second of Trump’s nominees to withdraw from running for a position in the next administration. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz announced last month that he would no longer seek the attorney general nomination as the conservative hothead faces an uphill battle for confirmation in the Senate. Trump replaced him with a fellow Floridian, former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is from Tampa.

Chronister’s wife, Nicole DeBartolo, is the daughter of former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr. During his first term, Trump granted Chronister’s father-in-law a presidential pardon after he pleaded guilty in 1998 to failure to report a bribery case , which led to the federal prison sentence of former Louisiana Governor Edwin W. Edwards. Although he served no prison time, Edward DeBartolo Jr. agreed to pay a fine of up to $1 million and left ownership of the NFL team to his sister.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN’s Steve Contorno and Maegan Vazquez contributed to this report.