Trump pulls ATF nominee from consideration after GOP senators expressed frustration over gun answers

The White House announced that it was withdrawing Chuck Canterbury from being the nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

The withdrawal was announced to Congress on Tuesday. Canterbury is the former president of the Fraternal Order of Police and was nominated by the president to head the ATF last year. During his confirmation hearing last July, Canterbury upset some Republican lawmakers for being evasive about his answers on gun control.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham had called the vote on Canterbury’s nomination “very problematic,” according to the Washington Times. “I’ll have that up to them, but I think that one will be a problem,” the South Carolina Republican said.

During his hearing, Canterbury was repeatedly asked about his personal views on major gun control issues, but he only responded by saying he couldn’t express views outside the Fraternal Order of Police’s positions.

“I like straight answers, and you are being evasive,” GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told Canterbury. “You have been nominated to run ATF. I think every member of this panel, both my Democratic friends and Republican friends who have feelings about the Second Amendment, are entitled to know both morally and legally what you believe.”