Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) will not serve as the White House drug czar. President Trump’s expected pick to run the Office of National Drug Control Policy announced on Wednesday that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for the post.
“Due to a critical illness in my family, I have, with regret and the utmost respect, informed the White House that I must withdraw my name from consideration for director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,” Marino said in a statement.
“I thank the president for the enormous honor of considering me for this lead role in the effort to address one of the most pressing issues facing our nation and my state today: the opioid epidemic. I will remain in Congress and continue to support President Trump in whatever way I can.”
{mosads}Marino was one of Trump’s earliest backers on Capitol Hill and campaigned alongside him in Pennsylvania ahead of the presidential election.
The Pennsylvania Republican is known on Capitol Hill for his hardline policies on drug control and enforcement, and he has been a staunch opponent of state medical marijuana programs.
CBS News reported last month that Marino was in the final stages of completing his paperwork for the post and that the Trump administration was preparing to announce the nomination.