Controversial US sheriff David Clarke withdraws from top post in Trump administration
Controversial Wisconsin sheriff does not now want to be considered for homeland security assistant secretary position
David Clarke, the controversial sheriff and self-described “Trumpster”, has removed himself from consideration for a senior position at the department of homeland security.
Clarke, who is the Milwaukee, Wisconsin county sheriff, was expected to become assistant secretary at homeland security by the end of June.
But Craig Peterson, an adviser to Clarke, told the Washington Post that Clarke “formally notified secretary of homeland security John Kelly that he had rescinded his acceptance of the agency’s offer to join DHS”.
“Sheriff Clarke is 100 per cent committed to the success of President Trump and believes his skills could be better utilised to promote the president’s agenda in a more aggressive role.”
Significant delays to his appointment reportedly contributed to Clarke’s withdrawal.
Clarke strongly backed Donald Trump during the US presidential election and compared Black Lives Matter to the Ku Klux Klan. He said black Americans sell drugs “because they’re uneducated, they’re lazy, and they’re morally bankrupt”.