WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Congressman Tom Marino, R-Penn., has withdrawn from consideration to serve as the nation's next drug czar.
'Rep. Tom Marino has informed me that he is withdrawing his name from consideration as drug czar. Tom is a fine man and a great Congressman!' Trump said in a post on Twitter.
Marino has recently come under pressure after a report from CBS's '60 Minutes' and the Washington Post said he was the chief advocate for a law that made it virtually impossible for the DEA to freeze suspicious narcotics shipments from drug distributors.
The report noted political action committees representing the pharmaceutical industry contributed nearly $100,000 to Marino.
The White House announced Trump's nomination of Marino as Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy last month, highlighting his experience as U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Senate Joe Manchin, D-W.V., who told CNN that Marino would become drug czar 'over my dead body,' thanked Trump following the news of the Congressman's withdrawal.
'@realDonaldTrump - thanks for recognizing we need a drug czar who has seen the devastating effects of the problem,' Manchin said on Twitter.
Trump acknowledged the report about Marino during a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., on Monday.
While noting that Marino was an early supporter of his and a 'great guy,' Trump said he was going to take a serious look into the report.
Trump, who has promised to declare the opioid crisis a national emergency, said he was likely to make a major announcement about the problem next week.
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