Swiftly after information broke that former President Donald Trump is about to be arrested, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis shortly denounced the transfer as “un-American”—and addressed the elephant within the room.
“Florida won’t help in an extradition request,” DeSantis tweeted, “given the questionable circumstances at situation with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda.”
One of the crucial vexing elements of the previous president’s unprecedented indictment was the position his prime rival for the 2024 GOP nomination might have performed within the authorized proceedings.
Following the indictment, Trump—formally a Florida resident—is required to look for his arraignment in Manhattan court docket. If he didn’t voluntarily give up, DeSantis can be compelled to approve a warrant for Trump’s arrest to extradite him from Florida to New York.
As he ramps up his presidential marketing campaign—one which depends upon changing Trump’s supporters—DeSantis might have been put in an inconceivable political scenario, to not point out an totally novel authorized one, if Trump refused to cooperate.
In the mean time, nonetheless, it seems that Trump will voluntarily give up in New York. On Thursday night time, Trump’s lawyer confirmed to NBC Information that the previous president plans to give up in particular person in New York subsequent week. If he sticks to that dedication, DeSantis can be let off the hook.
In his response to the indictment, the Florida governor could have been extra centered on appeasing Trump’s supporters—much less so Trump and his allies, who’ve seethed for weeks that DeSantis has not moved quick sufficient to denounce the indictment as a “witch hunt.”
Unsurprisingly, DeSantis’ tweet landed with one thing of a thud in Trumpworld. Specifically, sources within the ex-president’s internal circle instantly seized on the truth that DeSantis didn’t identify Trump in his tweet.
“There’s a identify lacking,” one Trump operative near the 2024 marketing campaign mentioned, whereas one other supply near Trump questioned why DeSantis did not use his identify.
Even when DeSantis had named Trump, it most likely would have been too little, too late within the eyes of his backers.
“It doesn’t matter,” a supply near Trump instructed The Every day Beast concerning DeSantis’ tweet. “DeSantis let his true colours present final week when he tried to spin the indictment as a ‘manufactured disaster’ proper earlier than making an attempt to punch Donald Trump within the face with a Soros speaking level.”
A DeSantis spokesperson didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
DeSantis’ fast dedication to not cooperate with New York authorities and shield Trump illustrates his political bind—and his willingness to skirt established process to be able to make a press release towards Manhattan prosecutors.
As The New York Occasions reported, “DeSantis’ position can be primarily ministerial and he would have few authorized choices apart from approving an extradition request from New York.”