(Washington, DC) — President Biden is withdrawing his nomination of David Chipman to lead the ATF. Chipman is a former, veteran ATF agent who ran into trouble with Republicans and some Democrats over his alliance with gun control advocacy groups. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki [[ SAH-kee ]] called Chipman’s service “exemplary.” The President released a statement saying, “Republicans in Congress have made clear that they intend to use gun crime as a political talking point instead of taking serious steps to address it.”
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell tweeted it was “absurd that a vocal opponent of Americans’ constitutional rights was ever picked to run the ATF.” The Kentucky Republican called the expected withdrawal a win for the 2nd Amendment.