A day after former President Donald Trump’s home was searched by the FBI, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a press conference near the Florida Governor’s Mansion, where Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis and their three young children live.
The governor last evening had tweeted, in part, that the search at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach “is another escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the Regime’s political opponents.”
On Tuesday, Fried, an attorney, statewide elected Cabinet member and 2022 gubernatorial candidate, wanted to reflect about what’s happening in the nation.
“If we all take a step back and reflect, we are all saddened to see where we are in history. No one wants to see a past president’s house searched — the first time in American history,” Fried said. “We are more divided today than we have been since the Civil War.”
As she spoke, the small park area near the Governor’s Mansion was fenced off, with signs citing Florida trespassing laws. Law enforcement vehicles and officers were present but were not encroaching on Fried’s press conference.
She noted that “we are all waiting for answers from yesterday,” but also emphasized that “nobody is above the law.”
According to CNN Politics Monday, federal agents executed a search warrant on Trump’s Florida home Mar-A-Lago, apparently as part of an investigation of the handling of presidential documents.
Many members of the GOP quickly came to the defense of the former president on social media, such as Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tweeting “DEFUND THE FBI” and U.S. GOP Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy promising to “conduct immediate oversight” of the Justice Department if the Republicans take back the House.
DeSantis’ tweet last night also stated that “people like Hunter Biden get treated with kid gloves. Now the Regime is getting another 87k IRS agents to wield against its adversaries? Banana Republic.”
But Fried said Tuesday: “It also pains me that Ron DeSantis — who still has not condemned Nazis, even after multiple requests to stand united with me. He won’t condemn January 6, but he has no problem attacking the FBI, an FBI that is run by a director that was appointed by Donald Trump.”
Fried’s main Democratic opponent for the August primaries, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, made a similar connection Monday on Twitter:
“DeSantis attacks law enforcement for legally raiding Mar-a-Lago while he’s yet to say anything about the heinous Nazis in our state who’ve been rallying in support of him. Also, attacking a private company, Disney, for free speech is about as ‘banana republic’ as it gets.”
Crist has been a Republican governor, Attorney General, and Education Commissioner over the years before he became a Democrat and is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Congress.
At the press conference, Fried also discussed DeSantis’ recent suspension of a duly elected Hillsborough County state attorney for allegedly refusing to enforce criminal penalties on doctors providing gender-affirming care or abortions, which she called a “politically motivated overreach of executive power.”
DeSantis’ tweet Monday night also mentions the potential 87,000 new federal Internal Revenue Services positions looped into a sweeping energy, climate, health care, and tax package that the U.S. Senate approved over the weekend. The new positions are expected to assist with tax enforcement and other measures. The U.S. House has to approve the bill.
That said, DeSantis has pushed for creating his own investigation team for “election crimes” in the 2022 legislative session, though the 2020 election went well in Florida.
–Danielle J.Brown, Florida Phoenix
Jackson1955 says
Come on Florida, you can do better!
Trump called for this, and his people are answering. As a demagogue, Trump can incite violence by appealing to people who fear change. He’s effective because his base is afraid of change, particularly changing demographics. Their hate is just a byproduct of that fear. John Maxwell once said change is inevitable, growth is optional. It’s long past time for Trump’s base to grow up.
All of the hostile tweets from the Republicans, including DeSantis during the past couple of days will eventually result in a Law Enforcement Death. Mark my words!
David Schaefer says
DeathSantis is nothing but a hypocrite and still acting like a Trumper…
Laurel says
The Republicans are shameless. They are crying over the unfairness of the *raid* but seem to have no interest in what the boxes of documents contain, that Trump has relocated to his private home, and has kept for two years though he has been asked to return them. It all goes back to the treatment of the poor, little, rich white boy, such a victim. I didn’t see that kind of uproar from the Republicans when the police raided the wrong house and killed innocent Brianna Taylor. Nope, poor baby Trump, so abused! Such a victim.
So, instead of waiting to see just what is in those boxes, they start their deflections: Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Hilary Clinton. They start defining the issue to twist it in their favor. So, again, to cover for the eternal victim baby, they would rather undermine the confidence, of the American public, in the FBI when you and I know that it’s all bullshit. I’m embarrassed that DeSantis is our governor.
I’ve stated this before, but just whatever the Republicans claim about the Democrats, is what they themselves are doing. It’s absolutely disgusting behavior. I’m not a Republican or a Democrat, but I can barely stand to listen to Republicans anymore. They should be telling their constituents the truth, but don’t have the guts. They are completely shameless, and have no regard for our country.
DaleL says
Trump’s “home” was searched by the FBI. The head of the FBI, Christopher Wray, was appointed by Trump in 2017. Trump now says that Wray should be fired.
Trump made the search by the FBI public. Then he and his acolytes, including DeSantis, loudly demanded that the FBI and Justice Department release the contents of the search warrant and detail what was taken. In fact, Trump (Trump’s attorneys) have a copy of the search warrant and a list of what was taken during the search. Trump could have released both the warrant and the list last Monday! They have even accused, without a shred of evidence, that FBI agents may have “planted” incriminating evidence to frame Trump.
Trump, DeSantis, Hawley, and the rest are disgraceful. Our law enforcement officers, from the FBI agents to our local sheriff deputies deserve to be respected (Unless there is credible evidence of malfeasance.). The disingenuous, dishonest, vilifying rhetoric from these clowns has endangered, injured, and even caused the deaths of police officers. Their rhetoric has also ruined the lives of Trump’s most deceived followers. Ricky W. Shiffer is the most recent example of this. He lost his life and endangered others because he believed Trump’s lies.
A.j says
As I speak against the Repubs I have another slogan. Vote Repubs and get dirty scrubs.