Joe Biden is preparing to withdraw his nomination of David Chipman to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) this week, a Thursday report reveals.
Chipman has faced a slew of criticism since his nomination earlier this year and has received bipartisan backlash of his gun control advocacy.
The opposition has held up the process for Chipman's confirmation and now, two people familiar with the decision told The Washington Post, Biden is going to withdraw the nomination.
Republicans immediately lauded the reports of the withdrawn nomination as a win for America and a loss for Democrats.
'David Chipman is an unhinged gun-grabber,' Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton tweeted on Thursday. 'His defeat is a win for the Constitution—and a crushing loss for Joe Biden.'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to take credit for the withdrawn nomination.
'Glad to hear reports the White House is taking my advice and pulling the terrible nomination of David Chipman,' the Kentucky Republican tweeted. 'Absurd that a vocal opponent of Americans' constitutional rights was ever picked to run ATF. This is a win for the Second Amendment and law-abiding American citizens.'
Joe Biden is preparing this week to withdraw David Chipman as the nominee to head the ATF
Republican Senator Tom Cotton called the withdraw a 'win for the Constitution' and 'crushing loss for Joe Biden'
Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs tweeted: 'Radical anti-gun nominee for the ATF David Chipman has been stopped. This is why we fight!'
Representative Byron Donalds of Florida, however, was a bit less optimistic about the impending withdrawal of Chipman's nomination.
'While I am pleased that the White House withdrew the nomination of anti-Second Amendment radical David Chipman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), I have little hope that the next Biden nominee will be any better,' he told DailyMail.com.
'The administration has already made their position clear on the Constitution of the United States, stating that 'no amendment is absolute,' he added. 'With this as the doctrine, I am more than confident that the next AFT nominee will be a sellout for the anti-gun lobby and pursue an agenda that makes it harder for law-abiding citizens to obtain their constitutional rights to keep and bear arms.'
Chipman worked at ATF for more than 20 years. He now works as a senior policy advisor at Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a role that has, in part, led to the widespread opposition to his confirmation.
The center is led by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who resigned after she was shot in the head in an assassination attempt outside of Tucson during an event with constituents in January 2011.
'This is why we fight!' Arizona Republican Representative Andy Biggs tweeted
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to take credit for the withdrawn nomination, tweeted he was 'glad to hear' Biden 'is taking my advice and pulling the terrible nomination of David Chipman'
Biden's nomination of Chipman, a gun control advocate, was likely part of a larger effort to curb the rise in gun violence in the U.S.
A series of missteps have also helped lead Chipman's nomination off course – including failing to disclose to Congress an interview he did with Chinese state run media that was potentially used as propaganda to cover up a mass stabbing of children in China's Henan Province.
He was also slammed by Republicans when he botched the definition of assault rifle and dodged questions during a confirmation hearing about whether he would investigate and take action against Hunter Biden 'lying' on his background check to obtain a firearm.
'Good News,' Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie posted on Thursday of the withdrawn nomination. 'He NEVER should have been nominated.'
Tennessee Republican Congresswoman Rep. Diana Harshbarger also said: 'This is great news for gun owners and a great victory for the Second Amendment!'
'Gun grabber' appeared to be the insult of choice among Republicans when describing Chipman.
'David Chipman is a gun grabber who doesn't respect the Constitution that he would have been sworn to uphold and protect,' Michigan Representative Lisa McClain told DailyMail.com. 'The ATF should never be led by a gun control advocate.'
'I'm thrilled the Biden Administration is withdrawing his nomination, and our Second Amendment rights are protected for now,' she added. 'I urge President Biden to nominate someone who is truly tough on actual crimes to lead the ATF.'
Montana Senator Steve Daines said: 'I've been opposed to Chipman leading the ATF from the start. He's an anti-2nd Amendment, gun-grabbing radical that should not lead the agency that regulates firearms.'
Some gave former President Donald Trump's son Don Jr. credit for crushing Chipman's nomination
Trump Jr.'s spokesperson Andrew Surabian said he ahd 'helped lead the fight against Chipman and got results'
Representative Jim Banks said allies like Don Jr. helped 'stop this radical, anti-gun activist from leading the ATF'
'Glad to see @JoeBiden listen to my request & pull this nominee. I'll always fight to protect MTns' #2A rights,' he said.
Some gave credit to former President Donald Trump's eldest son Donald Trump Jr. for the defeat of Chipman's nomination.
'I was proud to lead 68 of my colleagues in the fight against Chipman's nomination earlier this year,' Representative Jim Banks tweeted.
He added: 'The efforts from second amendment allies like @DonaldJTrumpJr to stop this radical, anti-gun activist from leading the ATF were very consequential!'
Don Jr. adviser and spokesman Andrew Surabian tweeted, 'Don Jr. helped lead the fight against Chipman and got results.'
'We defeated this anti-2A gun grabber and we'll defeat all of Biden's attempts to restrict our Second Amendment rights!' Trump Jr. tweeted in response to the report.
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