Quantcast
SECTIONS
US News
Mewe Share

DeSantis Hit With Second Ethics Complaint Over Presidential Ramp-Up, This Time From a Democrat

TFPP Wire By TFPP Wire
Published March 27, 2023 at 1:23pm
Mewe Share

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential presidential candidate, faces a second ethics complaint, this time filed by the head of the Florida Democratic Party.

The complaint concerns whether DeSantis’ political committee improperly spent money on a three-day retreat at a Palm Beach resort hotel, which could be seen as an inappropriate gift to the Republican governor.

In late February, DeSantis met with donors and fellow Republican elected officials, including Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Tom Cotton of Arkansas, at the Four Seasons, celebrating the “Florida blueprint.”

Campaign records reveal that Friends of Ron DeSantis paid over $235,000 to the Four Seasons for the event.

Nikki Fried, chair of the Democratic Party, filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics last week, alleging that the committee’s spending violates a Florida law prohibiting spending money on activities unrelated to the committee’s political work. The committee was initially established to support DeSantis in his gubernatorial race.

Fried criticized DeSantis, stating, “This is yet another example of Ron DeSantis arrogantly thinking he is above the law. No one is above the law.” She added, “While Floridians face some of the highest property insurance and mortgage rates in the state’s history, DeSantis is hobnobbing with special interest donors and lining his pockets with freebies.”

Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for DeSantis, dismissed the complaint as frivolous and politically motivated, similar to one filed earlier this month by a super PAC supporting former President Donald Trump. Fenske said on Twitter, “Louder for the Dems in the back: It’s inappropriate to use ethics complaints for partisan purposes.”

Evan Power, vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida, who previously filed an ethics complaint against Fried while she served as agriculture commissioner, also criticized the complaint. Power said in a statement, “Nikki Fried filing an ethics complaint is like asking Freddy [Krueger] to set up a first aid tent.” The ethics commission agreed to drop the case against Fried earlier this month.

The Democratic Party’s complaint is more focused than the one filed by the head of Make America Great Again, the super PAC backing Trump. It argues that the committee’s improper spending also includes $142,000 on an event at a Miami hotel, nearly $12,000 at a Miami steak restaurant, and money on DeSantis merchandise like promotional tumblers and t-shirts.

In Florida, political committees can receive unlimited donations from any donor, and state panels regulating ethics and campaign finance have historically allowed considerable latitude in committee spending.

DeSantis is expected to officially announce his presidential run later this year, promoting his new memoir and the “Florida blueprint” at events in Florida and other key states like Iowa and Nevada.

The ethics complaints filed against DeSantis and his political committee may take months to resolve, as the ethics commission determines whether there is a legal basis for the complaint and investigates it.

Submit a Correction





Mewe Share

Recently Posted

Tap here to add The Western Journal to your home screen.
×