DeSantis Admin Plans to Appeal After Judge Dismisses Election Fraud Case

MIAMI (FLV) – A spokesperson for the Governor’s Office said the administration intends to appeal after a Miami judge dismissed an election fraud case.

The arrest was conducted as part of the new Election Crimes and Security Office that investigates voter fraud and violations of election law. In August, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 20 people across the state were charged for voter fraud in the 2020 election.

DeSantis Announces 20 People Charged with Voter Fraud, Praises Florida’s New Election Crimes Office

The governor had said those arrested voted illegally in the state because they had been convicted of either murder or sexual assault and did not have the right to vote.

The Associated Press reports that Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Milton Hirsch said Robert Lee Wood, 56, “should not be prosecuted under the initiative because it did not involve multiple jurisdictions in Florida.”

The judge said the case against Wood was brought by the Office of Statewide Prosecution instead of a local state attorney.

“We disagree with the court’s jurisdictional ruling and intend to appeal. Given that elections violations of this nature impact all Florida voters, elections officials, state government, and the integrity of our republic, we continue to view the Florida Office of Statewide Prosecution as the appropriate agency to prosecute these crimes,” Press Secretary Bryan Griffin said.

Wood reportedly gave false information on registration forms and voting even though he was not qualified.

“The state will continue to enforce the law and ensure that murderers and rapists who are not permitted to vote do not unlawfully do so. Florida will not be a state in which elections are left vulnerable or cheaters unaccountable,” Griffin said.