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Dem senators slam Trump's drug czar pick

A whistleblower from the DEA called Marino out for shepherding policies that favored drug companies. Photo: Susan Walsh / AP

Lawmakers are urging President Trump to withdraw his nomination of Rep. Tom Marino as drug czar after a Washington Post/60 Minutes investigation revealed his role in promoting a bill that made it harder for the DEA to crack down on opioids, contributing to the widespread crisis. Trump said he's "looking into" the matter.

  • Sen. Joe Manchin wrote a letter to the White House "demanding" the withdrawal of Marino's name from consideration.
  • Sen. Chuck Schumer told the Washington Post that nominating Marino "is like putting the wolf in charge of the hen's house."
  • Sen. Claire McCaskill has said she will introduce legislation to repeal the law that stifled the DEA.

Go deeper: The drug industry's triumph over the DEA, from the Washington Post.