Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed that if he wins the presidency he will “excise political bias and end weaponization” of the U.S. Department of Justice “once and for all.”
“We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation,” he wrote on Twitter on Thursday night in response to news that former President Donald Trump has been federally indicted on charges related to mishandling classified documents.
The tone was consistent with DeSantis’ portrayal of himself as fighting against liberal takeovers of powerful institutions. But as governor, DeSantis has been unafraid to use law enforcement, the courts or the expansion of his own executive powers to pursue his own agenda.
Here are three examples of DeSantis pushing the legal envelope to accomplish what he wants:
Prosecuting felons for voting:
Hours before DeSantis held an afternoon news conference surrounded by uniformed law enforcement officers, nearly 20 people with felony records were arrested across Florida as part of a planned operation by state police.
DeSantis warned others that if they, too, improperly cast a vote: “We’re coming.”
The arrests were a display of the powers of the newly formed Office of Election Crimes and Security, which DeSantis pushed for amid pressure from the GOP base to do more to investigate Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.
The people arrested had voted in elections despite being convicted of disqualifying felonies, including sex offenses and murder. Many expressed confusion about the charges, saying they had been issued voter ID cards and thought they were eligible to vote.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement was tasked with carrying out the arrests, and some of the agents were almost apologetic as they did so, body camera footage showed. Several former agents recently told The Washington Post they believe that DeSantis has politicized the department.
Of the 19 people arrested initially, 12 were registered as Democrats and at least 13 are Black, the Times/Herald found.
Attorneys who represented the former felons argued in court that the prosecutions were a “waste of time” and done to “make a political point.”
The arrests represented a more aggressive approach to voter fraud cases than some other prosecutors had taken in the past. In Lake County, for example, the Republican state attorney declined to bring charges against six convicted sex offenders who voted in 2020 because they did not “willfully” commit the crime, as was required by law.
I have not been to Floridah for about 20 years.
I won’t ever be going back at this point.
Good thing my parents sold their condo in Floridah years ago before they passed.
Soon it may be the “United States of Floridah” anyway – not very happy about that.
Couldn’t one argue a voter ID is a license issues by the state. And a license is permission for an activity previously made illegal.
Or even argue on the grounds that it’s a contract.
Therefore, whoever is head of whichever department is bound by the contract. And liable for damages.
Also what’s coming for sex offenders are fluorescent green license plates! And drivers licenses with red lettering!
Ron perpetuates Legal Abuse Syndrome against any and all that he can because he has the power to do so. This could come back to haunt him and haunt him hard if he continues it.
Desantis needs to go to the big house and not the White House for continuing to abuse his power. Shame on Floridians who voted for him and those in the legislature who turned a blind eye to his agenda.
I’ve been saying it for YEARS.
It’s actually weaponized HATE. It’s one of the reasons these laws keep expanding annually.
Hell, they even give accreditation and award plaques to deputies for witch hunting us the hardest!
IMO the bit about weaponization is true, especially when and where the DDI is utilized against the will of the people.
A history professor once told me a fact, ” Immediately upon the discovery of fire, man burned man.”
I can’t believe this is even real and Unfortunately DeSantis ain’t going anywhere anytime soon, if anything he’s getting stronger, especially now that Trump has been indicted by FBI on 37 counts for espionage, it’s only a matter of time before Republicans abandon Trump for a new party leader and it’s looking like in the next 4-5 years it might be Santis.
If this guy makes it to the White House it’s safe to say PFR are screwed, and fluorescent green license plates, red letters on your identification card will be A nationwide requirement, Were only one sex crime away from national attention and out rage and this law will pass.
I would also like to remind people forced to register that we have all been placed on facial recognition, it’s kinda like terrorist watch, I know this because back in 2005 I got busted for petty theft while I was in court I asked the public defender how’d they catch me she said, “they used facial recognition and your face popped up easily because you’re already in the FBI database as a possible threat to public safety and the DMV also confirmed the match.
There are other kinds of social equity aimed regulatory regimes in play in Florida. Home Insurance is a regulated industry in Florida. Currently there is only one firm operating in the state.
Citizens insurance underwrites most or all of Florida claims. Historically speaking the state suffers from flooding and severe weather including hurricanes. FL commission is receiving requests for a 14 percent increase in premiums and Citizens refuses to cover homes or issue a policy in excess of 800K. We do not hear the Governor making that issue a top priority. Apparently, their is more than one way to monopolize a market.
But their are many ways for a market to collapse outright. Most of the time the result of a lack of trust, or too much risk.