TAMPA, FL - NOVEMBER 08: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gives a victory speech after defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist during his election night watch party at the Tampa Convention Center on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. DeSantis was the projected winner by a double-digit lead. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) tweeted on Thursday that the state of Florida will not cooperate with any efforts to extradite former President Donald Trump, following news that Trump has been indicted in New York.
The former president allegedly ordered his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair. Cohen has faced time in prison for lying about the exchange in court but has since turned on his former boss.
DeSantis is Trump’s only viable competitor in the 2024 primary election, where Republican voters will choose who they want to see face off with Democratic President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.
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Trump has ruthlessly attacked DeSantis in recent months, going as far as to effectively accuse him of sexual misconduct with underage girls while he was a high school teacher. He has also called the Florida governor a variety of names and has attacked his votes to cut Social Security and Medicare while he was a congressman.
DeSantis has only subtly hit back, usually claiming that he is more focused on governing Florida than participating in political theater like Trump. He is now making a full-fledged defense of the former president, claiming that his prosecution is “un-American,” saying that Florida won’t comply with New York’s indictment and hinting that the district attorney is being influenced by political donations from a Jewish Democratic party insider.
“Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda,” said DeSantis.
“Breaking the law is un-American and blaming it on George Soros is anti-Semitic,” said Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried.
Florida law does enable the governor to intervene in extradition if it is “contested,” but Trump is expected to surrender to authorities on Tuesday. He will be fingerprinted and have his headshot taken, being the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges.
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