I've been so busy with the Tsarnaev death sentence and the Baltimore police prosecution that I am remiss in having failed to report a happy development for the DEA.
The President last week appointed Chuck Rosenberg to be DEA Administrator. It's a superb choice. Chuck and I were AUSA's together in the Eastern District of Virginia for several years. He went on to become US Attorney there (and in Texas). His most recent post was as chief of staff to another former colleague of mine from EDVA, now-FBI Director Jim Comey.
Like Comey, Chuck is non-ideological and non-political. I have no idea whether he's a Republican or a Democrat. He was a tough and fair prosecutor, a straight shooter and a gentleman. When he was appointed US Attorney, the confirmation vote was unanimous.
I understand from the linked USA Today article that the drugs-are-wonderful lobby is "holding its breath" to see whether Chuck will be an "improvement" on outgoing DEA had Michele Leonhart (also a friend and once a colleague of mine).
I have no doubt Chuck will be an excellent leader for the DEA, just not in the way the drug lobby is hoping for.
Glad to hear you respect Chuck and think he will be an excellent DEA leader. I assume this means no more DEA parties with coke and hookers funded by cartels, but might it also mean less resources on marijuana enforcement and more focus on heroin problems?
Far be it from me to say what you should assume, but I have my doubts that these are high times, so to speak, for the pot-is-wonderful crowd.
A year ago today, they had the equivocal-on-pot Eric Holder as AG, Pat Leahy as SJC Chairman, and a career officer as head of DEA. Now they have Loretta Lynch (who affirmatively opposes legalization) as AG, Chuck Grassley at SJC, and a former EDVA federal prosecutor as head of DEA.
The linked USA Today article says the druggies are holding their breath. I hope their determination lasts a verrrrrrry long time.