MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Department of Homeland Security says Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke is no longer a candidate for a position in the agency.
The conservative firebrand said last month he was taking a job as an assistant secretary at the DHS, but the agency declined to confirm the appointment, saying it announces such senior appointments once the DHS secretary makes them official.
Craig Peterson, a political adviser to Clarke, said in a statement that the sheriff notified DHS Secretary John Kelly late Friday that he “had rescinded his acceptance of the agency’s offer” to join the department. The Washington Post first reported on Clarke’s decision.
The tough-talking Clarke, who is known for his provocative social media presence, is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump. According to Peterson’s statement, Clarke said he “is 100 percent committed” to Trump’s success and that he “believes his skills could be better utilized to promote the President’s agenda in a more aggressive role.”
Clarke is “reviewing options inside and outside of government,” the statement said.