DeSantis Hit With State Ethics Violation; “Running Shadow Campaign”
The one of them is formally vying for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, while the other has been raised as a potential contender for well over a year.
The conflict between former president Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has now, for the first time, moved beyond verbal exchanges and into a formal complaint.
Trump’s allies have accused DeSantis of running a “shadow presidential campaign” and breaking state election and ethics laws.
Trump entered the race for president in November, but DeSantis hasn’t said anything or replied to inquiries about a bid. The one discussion before his reelection last fall was marked by what seemed like an extremely extended silence as a result.
“If DeSantis is elected governor of Florida again, will you serve a full four-year term?” asked Democratic contender Charlie Crist directly. “It is not a challenging question.” Ultimately, Liz Quirantes, a news anchor for WPEC, intervened to save DeSantis, saying, “We did not agree on the candidates asking each other questions.”
DeSantis said a week later that the election had just been completed. Folks should simply take a moment to calm down about some of this.
Make America Great Again Inc., according to NBC News, filed a 15-page complaint on Wednesday asking the Florida Commission on Ethics to look into whether DeSantis-supporting super PACs, his “personally lucrative book tour,” or his ongoing fundraising efforts “are unlawful because they serve his personal political objectives, are in furtherance of his personal financial gain at the expense of Florida taxpayers, and are intended to influence his official decision to resign from office.”
Despite the fact that the primaries and caucuses are still more than a year away, DeSantis is seen as Trump’s main competition for the party’s candidacy. Although it is largely agreed that Trump assisted DeSantis in winning the governorship, DeSantis has decided to move away from speaking Donald Trump’s name or offering help at any turn as the media has continue to attack the former President.
In a break with Trump, DeSantis said he should’ve spoken out “far louder” against Trump at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to reports, Trump referred to DeSantis as a ingrate with a “dull attitude” who has no chance of defeating him if they face off in 2024. Politicians like DeSantis who refused to say if they received the COVID booster were referred to by Trump as “gutless.”
The GOP supermajority in Florida’s legislature appears to be debating legislation that would allow DeSantis to continue serving as governor even if he runs unsuccessfully for president as well as contentious rules to control what bloggers can say about him.
DeSantis has openly advocated making it simpler for public individuals like legislators to file defamation lawsuits, despite his frequent disregard for the media. Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy are the only other recognized Republicans running for president besides Trump.
NPR compiled a lengthy list of alternative options last week. They also include John Bolton, Mike Pence, and Ron DeSantis. They served as Trump’s national security advisor, secretary of state, and vice president, respectively.
Tim Scott and Liz Cheney from Congress, as well as the governors and former governors Chris Sununu, Glenn Youngkin, Kristi Noem, and Asa Hutchinson.
President Joe Biden has not declared a reelection campaign, but that is expected to change in terms of Democrats. Author of self-help books Marianne Williamson has declared her candidacy.
