Tom Marino Withdraws His Name From Consideration For Drug Czar

Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) wont be the nations drug czar after withdrawing his name from consideration.

President Donald Trump tweeted Tuesday morning that Marino had dropped out of consideration, praising him as a fine man:

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!

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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!
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2017

Earlier this week, The Washington Post and 60 Minutes reported Marino helped steer legislation making it harder for law enforcers to act against giant drug companies.

Congress passed a law in 2016 weakening the Drug Enforcement Administrations ability to crack down on drug makers and distribution companies supplying doctors and pharmacists peddling opioids to the black market. Marino was the chief advocate for the legislation, the report says.

During a press conference one day after that report was published, Trump declined to express confidence in Marino.

Were going to be looking into Tom, Trump said . Were going to look into the report, were going to take it very seriously.

Democrats spoke out against Marino this week, including Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), who told CNN Tuesday morning Marino would become drug czar over my dead body . Manchin penned a letter to Trump Monday expressing concern over the WaPo/60 Minutes report.

His advocacy for this legislation demonstrates that Congressman Marino either does not fully understand the scope and devastation of this epidemic or ties to industry overrode those concerns, Manchin wrote. Either option leaves him unfit to serve as the head of the ONDCP.

Manchin thanked Trump for recognizing we need a drug czar who has seen the devastating effects of the problem in a tweet on Tuesday.

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Trump said Monday he would make a big announcement on the opioid crisis probably next week, hinting hell formally declare it a national emergency months after he promised to do so.

Approximately 142 Americans die daily due to opioid addiction, an Opioid Commission report revealed in August. The amount of opioids prescribed in 2015 were enough for every American to be medicated around the clock for three weeks.

Willa Frej contributed reporting.