Biden Blames Republicans, Pledges Continued Gun Control Push After Withdrawing Chipman

President Joe Biden released a statement Thursday in which he blamed Republicans for David Chipman’s failed nomination and pledged to continue working toward more gun control.

The statement began with Biden praising Chipman for his work with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), then moved to blamed Republicans for the Chipman nomination failure:

Republicans in Congress have made clear that they intend to use gun crime as a political talking point instead of taking serious steps to address it. That’s why they’ve moved in lockstep to block David Chipman’s confirmation, and it’s why they side with gun manufacturers over the overwhelming majority of the American people in opposing commonsense measures like universal background checks.

Biden did not mention that the pivotal opposition to Chipman’s nomination came from Sen. Angus King (I-ME).