| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. Miami, Miami — The gaze of the nation will turn today to the 305 amid the unprecedented occurrence of former President Donald Trump appearing in court after being indicted on 37 counts related to his handling of classified documents. Showing up — Supporters of Trump — some of whom may be bused in from other parts of the state — are expected to show up on the streets outside the courthouse in downtown Miami, although city officials suggested on Monday that the exact number could vary significantly. Top conservative figures such as Kari Lake, the unsuccessful candidate for Arizona governor, are among those who have promised to be there in person. ‘Not the Miami way’ — Many figures in the Trump world have urged supporters to protest peacefully, but it’s clear the arraignment has put the city on edge as local officials contend they will have a coordinated law enforcement response in place. “We know there’s a potential of things taking a turn for the worst, but that’s not the Miami way,” Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales said. How it plays — Trump’s indictment has drawn fiery denunciations from many Republicans, although some rival GOP presidential candidates such as former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley have begun to change their tone about the allegations. Haley on Monday said if the charges in the indictment are true then Trump was “incredibly reckless.” The D word — On the eve of Trump’s court appearance, Florida Sen. Rick Scott showed up in nearby Doral — where Trump was spending the night. Scott held an animated press conference with political exiles from Latin American countries who endured oppression in their former homes. “This is what dictators do,” thundered Scott, who blasted the administration of President Joe Biden for the indictment. Scott would not comment directly, however, on the details of the actual indictment and told reporters he had read it but that he wasn’t going to get into the details. Day one — Maybe everything will go smoothly with little drama today like Trump’s appearance in New York City a few months ago. But this is just the opening moments of a process — and looming court battle — that could stress American democracy in untold ways and could upend the Republican primary for president. Today is the first test. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. Ron DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | |  | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | A GUIDE — Everything you need to know about Trump’s Miami court appearance, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout and Andrew Atterbury THE COVERAGE — “Trump scrambles to find lawyer on eve of first federal court appearance,” by The Washington Post’s Spencer S. Hsu, David Ovalle, Jacqueline Alemany and Josh Dawsey; Trump heads to Miami for his arraignment. What kind of circus will follow? by POLITICO’s Meridith McGraw; “Trump has options for fighting charges, but they might face challenges,” by The New York Times’ Alan Feuer, Maggie Haberman and Ben Protess; Trump legal help includes longtime Florida GOP fixture, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout FROM THE BENCH — Trump drew one of his favorite judges. Here’s how she could help his case, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein: Now, [U.S. District Judge Aileen] Cannon will be in an even more powerful position to steer Trump’s legal fortunes. After special counsel Jack Smith obtained an indictment in the Southern District of Florida, about seven active judges in the district appeared eligible to preside over the case. In an apparently random twist of fate, the court’s computerized assignment system allocated the case to Cannon. She is not expected to handle Trump’s initial court appearance on Tuesday; that will take place in front of a magistrate judge. But Cannon is expected to have control of the case in the weeks and months ahead (unless she heeds the calls of some ethics experts who are already saying she should step aside). CHOICES — “Trump needs white suburban women. His indictment splits them,” by The Wall Street Journal’s Catherine Lucey and Annie Linskey: “Beth Nye voted for Trump in 2016 before switching to [former President Joe] Biden in 2020. The teacher from the Dallas suburbs says she is holding out hope for other options in 2024. But she is not ruling out going back to Trump, even after last week’s indictment. ‘It doesn’t put the nail in the coffin for me,’ said the 45-year-old mother of two from McKinney, Texas. ‘I’m willing to give Trump another look.’ Still, she described herself as undecided, saying she moved away from Trump the first time because she grew weary of the former president’s harsh remarks about women. Yet she doesn’t think she can back Biden a second time.” AS THE PAGES TURN — Former FBI official details bureau’s disagreement with DOJ ahead of its Trump search, by POLITICO’s Betsy Woodruff Swan: In a closed-door congressional interview last week, the official who led the FBI’s Washington Field Office at the time of its Mar-a-Lago search detailed a disagreement between bureau and Justice Department officials over how to recover sensitive papers that former President Donald Trump held onto after leaving office. Steven D’Antuono, who left his FBI post late last year for the private sector, outlined the FBI-DOJ dispute during a private interview last week with the House Judiciary Committee, calling it “an everyday discussion” that nonetheless created “consternation” among law enforcement officials involved in the planning and execution of the Mar-a-Lago search. KEEPING UP TO DATE — Donald Trump faces charges or ongoing investigations in four criminal cases: the mishandling of classified documents, a hush money scheme in New York, election interference in Georgia and the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. The former president may be on trial in multiple criminal cases as he mounts his bid to regain the White House in 2024. Read POLITICO's up-to-the-minute tracker on the status of each case, the key players and the legal risks.
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POLITICO Illustration | — Haley changes tune, calls Trump ‘reckless,’ by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison — “In Miami, Trump’s ardent backers are a sign of the city’s rightward shift,” by Associated Press’ Adriana Gomez Licon and Joshua Goodman — “‘We’ve had some sensational cases’: Trump’s case will be historic, even by Miami standards,” by Miami Herald’s Andres Viglucci — “Donald Trump unmoved by Ron DeSantis’ support amid latest indictment,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski — “Trump’s mouth may hurt him in court – but help him in the court of public opinion,” by The Messenger’s Tom LoBianco and Marc Caputo
| | DESANTISLAND | | I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I? — “DeSantis, Trump spar over who is conservative enough for a right-veering Supreme Court,” by USA Today’s John Fritze and David Jackson: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump swiped at each other Monday in a debate that might surprise many Americans: Whether the Supreme Court is conservative enough. DeSantis, speaking on a talk show Monday, suggested Trump's three nominees to the nation's highest court − Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett − weren't quite conservative enough for GOP voters and vowed to ‘do better’ if elected. DeSantis and Trump are vying for the GOP presidential nomination. Response — “Trump's campaign fired back by noting that the former president's nominees are the reason conservatives on the Supreme Court had the votes last year to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling was the culmination of a decades-long push to overturn Roe.” P.O.V. — “‘We are going to end weaponization’: DeSantis doubles down on mistrust of justice system,” by Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos: “Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday doubled down on the contention that the federal justice system has been politicized and weaponized, a view that a growing number of Republicans have espoused in the days following former President Donald Trump’s second indictment. In an interview with conservative radio personality Hugh Hewitt, DeSantis said that if he is elected president in 2024, he will 'radically reduce the size' of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and 'reorient' the functions of federal law enforcement.” — “Catholic GOP lawmakers quiet as bishop criticizes Florida for migrant relocation flights,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call — “Ron DeSantis to attend fundraiser with Wall Street execs, including former Soros firm partner,” by CNBC’s Brian Schwartz
| | | | GET READY FOR GLOBAL TECH DAY: Join POLITICO Live as we launch our first Global Tech Day alongside London Tech Week on Thursday, June 15. Register now for continuing updates and to be a part of this momentous and program-packed day! From the blockchain, to AI, and autonomous vehicles, technology is changing how power is exercised around the world, so who will write the rules? REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | REPORT ROUNDUP — The latest batch of monthly campaign reports were due on Monday (a schedule that will soon change due to a new law signed by Gov. DeSantis.) Some items worth noting: The group that wants to put an amendment on the 2024 ballot that would place abortion rights in the state constitution raised more than $900,000 in May and spent more than $2 million. Among the big donors to Floridians Protecting Freedom was a Florida arm of Planned Parenthood that donated $200,000. Christine Stiefel, a Coral Gables retiree and heiress who has donated to Democrats, donated $250,000. Trulieve in May donated another $550,000 to Smart & Safe Florida, the committee backing an amendment to legalize marijuana. The company that dominates Florida’s medical marijuana market has now spent more than $39 million in an effort to make the 2024 ballot. Treasure Florida, the political committee associated with Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, in late May transferred $5 million to the Keep Florida Free political committee, an outfit set up late year and run by Melissa Stone, a top political consultant for Patronis. The Seminole Tribe of Florida donated in May donated $25,000 each to the political committees connected to Attorney General Ashley Moody and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. MAKING IT OFFICIAL — The political committee that had been controlled by Gov. DeSantis but then shifted control over to Sen. Blaise Ingoglia and changed its name to Empower Parents PAC is shutting down as a state political committee. The Empower Parents website was recently updated to show that it transferred $82.5 million to Never Back Down, the super PAC that backs DeSantis' bid for president, on May 31. This transfer has already drawn fire and a complaint contending it violates federal campaign finance laws. MOVIN’ OUT — “Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County state attorney since 2012, won’t seek fourth term,” by Palm Beach Post’s Julius Whigham II: “Dave Aronberg, Palm Beach County's top prosecutor, announced Monday that he will not seek a fourth term in office in 2024. ‘I love this job and am grateful for the opportunity to serve my community as State Attorney since my first election in 2012,’ Aronberg said in a prepared statement released Monday. ‘Nothing is forever, and this position is not meant to be a lifetime career. As such, I will not be seeking a fourth term in 2024.’ In addition to being Palm Beach County's lead prosecutor, Aronberg has become a prominent national figure through frequent appearances sharing opinions and legal analysis on television networks such as MSNBC, CNN and NewsNation.”
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Dave Aronberg. | AP Photo/Steve Cannon | TREND LINE — “Moms for Liberty rises as power player in GOP politics after attacking schools over gender, race,” by Associated Press’ Ali Swenson: “The group was founded in 2021 by Tiffany Justice, Tina Descovich and Bridget Ziegler, all current and former school board members in Florida who were unhappy with student mask and quarantine policies during the pandemic. In two years, the organization has ballooned to 285 chapters across 44 states, Justice said. The group claims 120,000 active members. It has expanded its activism in local school districts to target books it says are inappropriate or 'anti-American,' ban instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, require teachers to disclose students’ pronouns to parents, and remove diversity, equity and inclusion programs from schools.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | ON BOARD — “UF taps new leader for Hamilton Center,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar: “William Inboden, executive director and chairperson of the Clements Center at the University of Texas-Austin, whose research interests include ‘American presidency, the Cold War, grand strategy, history and statecraft,’ according a news release, was picked for the job. Inboden is the author of four books on foreign policy. The most recent was ‘The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink.’ He was a contributing editor at Foreign Policy. He has written about how both President Joe Biden and the current GOP should look to Reagan as an example in foreign policy matters. The New York Times reported in March that Gov. Ron DeSantis had met with Inboden to discuss foreign policy.” — “Cuban government was responsible for death of dissident Oswaldo Payá, human rights group says,” by El Nuevo Herald’s Nora Gámez Torres — “Events honor victims and survivors of Pulse on seven-year anniversary,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Amanda Rabines — “Orlando Museum of Art ex-director: Basquiat plea deal a ‘cover-up,’” by Orlando Sentinel’s Matthew J. Palm — “Black Florida mother killed by white neighbor remembered for faith, devotion to 4 kids,” by Associated Press — “Palm Beach County murderer and rapist asks U.S. Supreme Court to stop execution,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders — “Officials denounce Nazi demonstration outside Disney amid rising antisemitism in Florida,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Silas Morgan — “A vandal sprayed messages on a Miami Catholic church. Cameras were watching, cops say,” by Miami Herald’s David J. Neal
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “Pinellas Catholic school reverses voucher-based tuition hike,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Jeffrey S. Solochek: “A Pinellas County private school that planned to raise its tuition rates to take advantage of state-funded vouchers has done an about-face. St. Paul Catholic School in St. Petersburg sent a letter to families on June 4 telling them it will return to the charges it had announced in January, instead of imposing increases of $4,000 to $5,000 per student. The move came days after the Tampa Bay Times detailed the school’s plans encouraging all parents to apply for vouchers, which no longer carry income eligibility requirements, as a way to boost its budget.” BIRTHDAYS: Former State Sen. David Simmons | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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