News: The strange silence from Ron DeSantis

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

The strange silence from Ron DeSantis

Jun 06, 2023

Hello and welcome to Tuesday. It’s the 79th anniversary of D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy.

On brand — During his reelection campaign — and now his presidential campaign — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has sharply criticized the immigration policies of President Joe Biden. Whenever DeSantis reaches that part of his speech, he makes a pointed reference to his decision last fall to fly nearly 50 migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard as a way of drawing attention to the nation’s immigration policies. It’s a line that usually draws a roar from the crowd.

Expected — With millions set aside for his controversial migrant relocation program (which was retooled by legislators following a lawsuit), it was always anticipated that more relocations would occur. But when? Where?

Arrivals — In the past few days there have been two flights of migrants from New Mexico to Sacramento, California, that bear a strong resemblance to the first round, and California officials have blamed DeSantis and Florida. They said there is documentation that links the flights to the state and the same vendor that arranged the Martha’s Vineyard flights. California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the flights a “stunt” by DeSantis that was “disgusting and morally bankrupt.”

Oh, so quiet — Yet the DeSantis administration — and his pugilistic campaign team — have remained quiet even after California Gov. Gavin Newsom blasted DeSantis on Monday as a “small, pathetic man” and suggested that the flights could trigger “kidnapping charges.” It’s worth noting here that The New York Times talked to one of the migrants on the flight who said that those who organized the flight told people “If you want to go, go, or stay. Nobody is being obligated.” Meanwhile, a Texas sheriff has recommended charges be brought in connection with the last year's flights to Martha’s Vineyard.

Limited response — So, that’s why the silence so far from the bulk of DeSantis world is so puzzling. The governor and his supporters have been more than willing to engage with blue state politicians such as Newsom in the past. One voice who did defend the governor on Monday was Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler, who said bluntly that “if Gov Newsom is calling Gov DeSantis ‘pathetic’, how should we refer to the Governor of California, who has seen tens of thousands of his own citizens literally flee his failed leadership in order to end up in DeSantis-led Florida?”

What’s up? — But the campaign and the administration have refrained from commenting directly. Maybe DeSantis plans to discuss the flights with great fanfare on his trip this week to Texas. Or it could be, of course, that the vendor who arranged the flights didn’t give a heads up to state officials ahead of time. Clearly, if Florida didn’t have anything to do with the flights, then why not say that?

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. Ron DeSantis is scheduled to hold a press conference at a recreation center in The Villages retirement community in Wildwood. He is also scheduled to attend a presidential campaign fundraiser in Midland, Texas.

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DESANTISLAND

‘THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN’ — “Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis: Sworn enemies who need each other, by POLITICO’s Jeremy White: The attacks intensify a mutually-advantageous conflict between Newsom, who leads the largest Democratic stronghold in America and has constructed a national persona around confronting Republicans, and DeSantis, who has made railing against “woke” ideologies and liberal policies a main selling point as he campaigns in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and beyond. At the same time, it allows both men to highlight their own partisan politics to their respective bases.

Gavin Newsom speaks during a conference.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif., on May 2, 2023. | Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

THE SILENT TREATMENT — Florida officials mum as a second migrant flight arrives in Sacramento, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: A second plane full of migrants from the Texas border landed in Sacramento on Monday, leading California officials to escalate allegations that the DeSantis administration has resumed its controversial relocation program. Although the flights are receiving national attention, Florida officials, by and large, are staying silent about any potential involvement while Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has been campaigning in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

MEANWHILE — “Sheriff: Organizers of DeSantis’ migrant flights from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard committed crimes,” by San Antonio Express-News’ Guillermo Contreras: “Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar has recommended felony and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint over two politically charged flights of immigrants from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard in September orchestrated by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The sheriff's office has handed District Attorney Joe Gonzales its findings from a criminal investigation into the flights. It's now up to the prosecutor whether to file charges.”

YOU DON’T SAY — Ramaswamy: ‘I don’t have a particular personal beef with DeSantis at all’, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison: Discussing his approach to a primary race in which he is currently averaging around 3 percent in polling — or “marginally ahead of where Trump was in June of 2015” — he downplayed the idea that he was in the field primarily to bloody up Trump’s main opponent, Gov. Ron DeSantis. “I don’t have a particular personal beef with DeSantis at all,” said [Vivek] Ramaswamy, who has aimed his fire at the Florida governor while largely reserving criticism of Trump. “I agree with a lot of policies he enacted in Florida. I think he’s a good executor. He took Kristi Noem’s vision for how to deal with Covid policies in (South Dakota) and did a good job of implementing that in Florida.”

— “Trump and DeSantis: The pot vs. kettle primary,” by The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake

— “Team DeSantis bets big on angrier GOP base,” by Axios’ Hans Nichols and Alex Thompson

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

AS THE PAGES TURN — “Mar-a-Lago pool raises suspicions among prosecutors in Trump classified documents case,” by CNN’s Katelyn Polantz, Jeremy Herb and Kaitlan Collins: “An employee at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence drained the resort’s swimming pool last October and ended up flooding a room where computer servers containing surveillance video logs were kept, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. While it’s unclear if the room was intentionally flooded or if it happened by mistake, the incident occurred amid a series of events that federal prosecutors found suspicious. At least one witness has been asked by prosecutors about the flooded server room as part of the federal investigation into Trump’s handling of classified documents, according to one of the sources.”

— Trump lawyers visit Justice Department, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein

— “Federal grand jury in Florida to hear testimony in Trump documents case,” by NBC News’ Ken Dilanian and Julia Ainsley

— “Supreme Court will hear attempt to trademark ‘Trump Too Small,’” by The Washington Post’s Robert Barnes

CAMPAIGN MODE

HMM — “Republican prosecutor declined to pursue cases similar to those brought by DeSantis election police,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Christopher Cann: “A Republican state attorney last May declined to prosecute six voter fraud cases that involved circumstances strikingly similar to the cases later brought against 20 ex-felons by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ election police unit and statewide prosecutors. The office of State Attorney Bill Gladson, whose district includes The Villages and five Republican counties, confirmed six convicted sex offenders in Lake County had voted in the 2020 general election, according to a determination letter obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. Gladson and his staff concluded, however, that the cases could not be prosecuted because the fraud was not willful — a rationale that attorneys say applies equally to many of the voter fraud cases currently being pursued by the Office of Statewide Prosecution.”

— ‘Put up or shut up!!’: Lake supervisor angry with Republican Party over voter fraud claims,” by The Daily Commercial’s Katie Sartoris

TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT — “Anatomy of a murder: How the Democratic Party crashed,” Steve Schale for The Bulwark

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

FROM THE BENCH — “DeSantis and the GOP win key round in redistricting fight,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s John Kennedy: “Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature won a key victory Monday in their defense of Florida’s new congressional district lines, with a judge ruling that lawmakers can argue in trial that the state’s Fair Districts standards violate the U.S. constitution. DeSantis, now a Republican presidential contender, pushed the redistricting plan through the Legislature last year. When voters went to the polls a few months later, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson, a Black North Florida Democrat was among the new map’s first victims, losing his re-election bid while Republicans added four seats from Florida, helping the GOP win control of the U.S. House.”

— “Gov. DeSantis signs bill retooling Space Florida’s mission, board” by Florida Politics' Drew Wilson

THE GUNSHINE STATE

ON THE WAY OUT THE DOOR — “Commission: Florida judge should be reprimanded for conduct during Parkland school shooting trial,” by Associated Press’ Terry Spencer: “The Florida judge who oversaw the penalty trial of Parkland school shooter Nikolas Cruz should be publicly reprimanded for showing bias toward the prosecution, failing to curtail ‘vitriolic statements’ directed at Cruz’s attorneys by the victims’ families and sometimes allowing ‘her emotions to overcome her judgement,’ a state commission concluded Monday. The Judicial Qualifications Commission found that Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer violated several rules governing judicial conduct during last year’s trial in her actions toward Cruz’s public defenders…Scherer announced last month that she would be retiring from the bench on June 30. The commission said the resignation was not part of any deal struck with the judge.”

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION — Ballard Partners is expanding its reach to Africa. The high-profile lobbying firm announced Tuesday that it is opening an office in Abuja, Nigeria, the nation’s capital, along with a satellite office in Lagos. Lai Mohammed, the immediate past Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, will serve as the managing partner of the new office. “Opening our first African office in Nigeria expands our firm’s international footprint to three continents and builds upon the important work we have done on behalf of African nations and companies in Africa and the U.S.,” said Brian Ballard, the firm’s president and founder. Mohammed said he was “very pleased” to join the firm. He added that “Ballard Partners has an impeccable reputation internationally and is well known for its success representing African countries and American firms in Africa.”

MOVING AHEAD — “Florida Supreme Court won’t block execution of Palm Beach County murderer and rapist,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: “Rejecting arguments about Death Row inmate Duane Owen’s mental competency, the Florida Supreme Court on Monday refused to block next week’s planned execution of Owen in the 1984 murder of a Palm Beach County woman. Justices unanimously upheld a circuit judge’s ruling that, in part, found issues about Owen’s competency were addressed in earlier appeals. Also, the Supreme Court denied a request by Owen’s attorneys for a stay of execution.”

TIMELY CALL — “Miami official rejected plans by a developer paying Suarez. Then the mayor’s aide called,” by Miami Herald’s Sarah Blaskey and Joey Flechas: “[Miami Zoning Director Daniel] Goldberg had heard from [Lazaro] Quintero before on behalf of developers. But what he said he didn’t know when the mayor’s staffer asked him to reconsider a zoning restriction threatening developer Rishi Kapoor’s Miami project with a costly redesign was that Kapoor was paying the mayor $10,000 a month. ‘Please thank the Mayor for his support and assistance,’ Kapoor wrote in an Oct. 11 email to Quintero after the aide interceded in the zoning process. Goldberg was copied on the email thread.”

TO THE JUDGE — “Florida argues new law doesn’t target drag shows,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders: "Arguing that the measure does not 'target' drag shows, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is urging a federal judge to toss out a constitutional challenge by Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando to a new law that bars children from attending ‘adult live performances.’ State lawyers filed arguments Friday as U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell prepares to hold a hearing Tuesday on a motion by operators of the Orlando restaurant for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the law, which DeSantis signed last month."

— “‘I can go home and rest’: Arrest of final suspect in Hollywood Broadwalk shooting gives victim’s mom relief,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Angie DiMichele

— “Why is a Cuban spy who was nabbed in the U.S. and freed in a prisoner swap visiting Moscow?” by El Nuevo Herald’s Nora Gámez Torres

— “North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony DeFillipo suspended by Gov. DeSantis,” by CBS Miami

— “Carnival embarking drug dogs to stop onboard weed use,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise

— “Florida, other states sue over flood insurance changes that raises rates for many,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— “Mother fatally shot by neighbor after dispute over playing children, sheriff says,” by Associated Press: “A Florida mother was fatally shot through a door outside a neighbor’s home after what officials characterized on Monday as a 2 1/2-year feud over playing children. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said at a news conference Monday that deputies responding to a trespassing call at an Ocala home on Friday night found Ajike Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. The 35-year-old mother of four was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died. … ‘I wish our shooter would have called us instead of taking actions into her own hands,’ Woods said. ‘I wish Ms. Owens would have called us in the hopes we could have never gotten to the point at which we are here today.’”

BIRTHDAYS: Lt. Gov. Jeanette Núñez … former Rep. Allen Boyd … former state Sen. Paula Dockery … Cathy Schroeder, former deputy staff director for Florida Senate Democratic office.