TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — Governor Ron DeSantis’ team dismissed allegations from a pro-Trump political action committee (PAC) accusing the governor of breaking election laws.
The super PAC – Make America Great Again Inc. – filed a 15-page complaint on Wednesday with the Florida Commission on Ethics, according to NBC News.
The letter alleged that DeSantis directly or indirectly “has solicited and received millions of dollars’ worth of illegal gifts” and that many of the governor’s activities are “unlawful because they serve his personal political objectives, are in furtherance of his personal financial gain at the expense of Florida taxpayers.”
“Governor DeSantis’s ham-handed maneuverings have rendered him irreparably conflicted and have left the statehouse vacant,” the complaint added. “Governor DeSantis is focused on his shadow presidential campaign.”
DESANTIS’ OFFICE RESPONDS
In responding to the complaint, the governor’s office downplayed the allegations and suggested it was a hypocritical hatchet job.
“Adding this to the list of frivolous and politically motivated attacks – it's inappropriate to use state ethics for partisan purposes,” Taryn Fenske, DeSantis’ communications director, told NBC.
RESIGN TO RUN
As anticipation builds for the governor’s expected 2024 presidential run, Florida Republicans have been advocating for changes to the state’s “resign to run” requiring candidates to step down from their position if they choose to run for a federal office. The letter cited the law for many of its complaints.
Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo are on record supporting potential changes to the law.
“If an individual who is a Florida governor is running for president, I think he should be allowed to do it,” Passidomo said after the organizational session in November.
TRUMP’S BIG REGRET
The complaint comes less than 48 hours after Trump said he “probably” regrets his decision to endorse the governor in his 2018 primary election.
“He was dead as a dog, he was a dead politician,” Trump told reporters on Monday. “Remember this, if it weren’t for me, Ron DeSanctimonious would right now be working probably at a law firm or maybe a Pizza Hut I don’t know.”
