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Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said on Monday that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the top post at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“On Sunday, I informed President Biden's administration that I am respectfully withdrawing from consideration for the post of director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” Gonzalez said at the beginning of a five-tweet thread.
According to the veteran lawman, a year has passed since the president nominated him for ICE director, a position that has been filled on an acting basis for more than four years.
Gonzalez added that he prayed about the decision.
“I arrived at this decision after prayerfully considering what's best for our nation, my family and the people of Harris County who elected me to serve a second term as sheriff,” he tweeted. “I am grateful to President Biden for the honor of nominating me, and I wish this administration well as it strives to overcome the paralyzing political gridlock that threatens far more than our nation's border. Frankly, the dysfunction threatens America's heart and soul.”
The sheriff further reaffirmed his commitment to the residents of Harris County.
Gonzalez’s announcement comes more than three months after a domestic violence allegation against him surfaced.
Citing a report from Houston ABC affiliate KTRK, Houston Daily reported that U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) filed an affidavit last year regarding a past incident implicating the law enforcement veteran and one-time member of Houston City Council, which prompted Senate Democrats to postpone the vote while an investigation was conducted.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has since debunked the claim, KTRK reported.
According to Houston FOX affiliate KRIV, Gonzalez, a Democrat, oversees the largest sheriff’s office in Texas and the third-largest in the country.
He was first elected to the office in 2016 and won re-election in 2020, per the station.
He also served as Houston's police chief.