Drug czar nominee withdraws his name
Role in crafting law that weakened opioid rules was source of criticism
WASHINGTON— Rep. Tom Marino, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the nation’s drug czar, has withdrawn from consideration following reports that he played a key role in weakening the federal government’s authority to stop companies from distributing opioids.
“He didn’t want to have even the perception of a conflict of interest with drug companies or, frankly, insurance companies,” Trump told Fox News Radio in an interview Tuesday, shortly after breaking the news on Twitter.
The announcement follows reports by the Washington Post and CBS News, which detailed the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s involvement in crafting a 2016 law, signed by then-president Barack Obama, that weakened the Drug Enforcement Administration’s authority to curb opioid distribution.
It also comes amid growing pressure on Trump to fulfil his pledge to declare the nation’s opioid epidemic a “national emergency,” as a commission he’s convened on the subject has urged him to do. Trump said Monday that he would be making “a major announcement” on the topic next week.
Interviewed by Fox News Radio’s Brian Kilmeade, Trump said Marino “felt compelled” to step down.
“He feels very strongly about the opioid problem and the drug problem and Tom Marino said, ‘Look, I’ll take a pass,’ ” Trump added. Marino could not immediately be reached Tuesday for comment.
Democrats had called on Trump to withdraw the nomination, and hailed the news. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Marino’s decision the “right decision.”
“We need a drug czar who has seen these devastating effects and who is passionate about ending this opioid epidemic,” said Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, whose home state of West Virginia has been among the hardest-hit by the opioid epidemic.