2023-09-15 15:39:51
HOUSTON: The clash between former US President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over a private jet travel controversy has taken the Republican primary battle to a new level. Ron DeSantis has reacted strongly to a Washington Post report about undisclosed travel on private jets by fund donors.
Ron quipped that the report was an example of the “Trump-legacy media collusion.” DeSantis’ spokesman, Andrew Romeo, a former aide to the Florida governor who is now a top adviser to Donald Trump, even went so far as to send the paper. Romeo also quipped that additional questions about events, travelogues and documentation dating back nearly five years should be asked of Susie Wiles, the employee who oversaw such matters prior to the termination.
Political experts estimate that US politics has fallen to a level unheard of before, with the Trump team reacting harshly to the response from DeSantis. Wiles downplayed the issue to the point where Trump could answer on the campaign trail. Trump spokesman Steven Cheung said the deSantis campaign’s ridiculous statement didn’t even deserve a response.
But even Trump’s team was ready to respond to this and it was interesting. ‘Desantis should take a good look in the mirror instead of pointing fingers and trying to blame others. If you look at Trump’s history, you will see that there are only such accusations. The Trump team quipped that the retrospective would help them better understand why they decided to act unethically and sell their way into office.
DeSantis, who has stepped up his campaign against Trump, remains the former president’s strongest opponent in primary polling. But national and key state polls show Trump taking a huge lead. Another notable fact is that the former president is facing 91 criminal charges. One of the judges hearing the civil lawsuits, including election tampering, retention of secret information, payoffs and defamation claims arising out of the rape allegations, also dismissed the allegations as not easily dismissed.
DeSantis, who took office with Trump’s endorsement, made controversial trips in late 2018 when he was elected Florida governor. “The report of at least six undisclosed trips on private jets… about lodging and meals is considered a blow to DeSantis.
Romeo responded that all the trips and events you mention – about five years ago – were complied with and properly paid for. Efforts are routinely made by political leaders to raise funds for state political parties and develop relationships with state officials. He says that such trips are especially common during election years.
DeSantis did not file a gift disclosure while in office, the Post reported, citing the Florida Ethics Commission. Meanwhile, the state legislature, controlled by Republicans loyal to DeSantis, also notably passed a measure to protect the governor’s travel records from media scrutiny. One of the unidentified flights, the Post reported, was headed to Augusta National in Georgia, home of the Masters golf tournament.
Mori Hosseini, who supplied the jet, also gifted a golf simulator for the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. Hosseini, however, told the Post that he has always acted legally: he and his company have never demanded anything from this governor or any other former governors.
Hussaini later took advantage of $92 million in federal pandemic funding, according to the Post report. And he led the DeSantis administration to a highway interchange project he wanted. Political experts believe that this allegation puts DeSantis in a crisis.
English Summary: DeSantis secretly flew on a private jet is controversial
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