DeSantis, Florida Republicans swiftly denounce Trump federal indictment
Editor’s note: This story was uploaded to reflect the charges against Trump becoming public.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Republican leaders across Florida, including Gov. Ron DeSantis, have condemned the recent indictment of former President Donald Trump on charges related to alleged mishandling of classified documents at his Florida residence.
The event marks the first time a former U.S. president faces criminal charges brought forth by the federal government.
The former president responded to news of the indictment on TRUTH Social, calling himself “an innocent man.”
“I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election,” Trump said. “I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!”
The indictment drew sharp criticism from many Florida Republicans, among them DeSantis, who is widely viewed as one of Trump’s primary contenders for the Republican presidential nomination.
The charges became public on Friday. The former president is facing 38 counts relating to mishandling the documents and will appear in a court in Miami Tuesday.
DeSantis expressed disapproval of the charges brought against Trump on Twitter, calling it a “mortal threat to a free society.”
“We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?” DeSantis tweeted.
He said under his future presidential administration, he would bring “accountability” to federal agencies.
Florida Republican U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott also slammed the federal indictment on social media.
“There is no limit to what these people will do to protect their power & destroy those who threaten it, even if it means ripping our country apart & shredding public faith in the institutions that hold our republic together,” Rubio tweeted.
“Biden is single-handedly destroying the justice system in America. After tonight, Biden will go down as the most corrupt and despotic President in our nation’s history,” Scott said. “On the day his $5M bribe is exposed to the public, his DOJ indicts Trump for something he himself has done.”
One of Trump’s strongest congressional supporters, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., called the indictment “election interference.”
“The phony Boxes Hoax indictment is an attempt to distract the American public from the millions of dollars in bribes that the Biden Crime Family received from foreign nationals,” Gaetz tweeted. “This scheme won’t succeed. President Donald Trump will be back in the White House and Joe Biden will be Hunter’s cellmate.”
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., another ardent Trump ally, called the charges “the most significant threat to our democracy.”
“I stand with President Trump,” he said.
The former president also released a video, reiterating his innocence and slamming the latest investigation, spearheaded by an administration controlled by his opposing political party, as “the greatest witch hunt of all time.”
Trump’s legal troubles have continued to mount in recent months. In April, Trump was indicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat.
