Federal Government Policy and Business

Trump says drug czar nominee Tom Marino is withdrawing after Washington Post/’60 minutes’ investigation

The Washington Post: President Trump said Tuesday that his nominee to be the nation's drug czar is withdrawing from consideration for the job. Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.) was under fire in the wake of revelations in a Washington Post/"60 Minutes” investigation that the lawmaker helped steer legislation in Congress making it harder to act against giant drug companies. Trump had declined to express support for Marino on Monday. [Trump declines to endorse embattled drug czar nominee] The president also said Monday that he will declare a national emergency next week to address the opioid epidemic. Trump said “we’re going to be looking into” the investigation, while many Democrats and at least one Republican called for modification or outright repeal of the law. Democrats also urged Trump to drop Marino as his pick to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Trump defended Marino as “a very early supporter of mine” and “a great guy.” He said that he had seen the reporting in question and that the White House would review the information.

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