"Disgrace": Florida GOP bill to use taxpayer money to cover Trump legal fees goes down in flames | Salon.com
By: Gabriella Ferrigine (Salon)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A plan spearheaded by some Florida Republicans to use taxpayer funds to assist former President Donald Trump in covering fees tied to his numerous legal woes was ditched after Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would veto the proposal, per Politico.
The bill was filed earlier this month by Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Fla., for this year's legislative session, and could allow Florida to give Trump up to $5 million as he navigates four criminal indictments at the federal and state level as well as a second defamation trial with writer E. Jean Carroll. Politico reported that the proposed legislation, which would give money to presidential candidates who were Florida residents, had already received backing from Florida's Republican chief financial officer and a member of DeSantis's Cabinet, Jimmy Patronis.
"It's in Florida's best interest to make sure their champion for the President is allowed a fair shot at the White House without being taken down by some fake witch hunt," Patronis said Monday, per The Washington Post.
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Patronis also alleged that having taxpayers pay for Trump's legal bills was a financially sound move.
"If we can help and support a Florida candidate for the White House, that's just good from a dollars and cents perspective," he said, according to Politico. "From all the decisions the federal government makes with regard to military installations, to roads, to disaster aid — it's in Florida's best interest to make sure their champion for the President is allowed a fair shot at the White House without being taken down by some fake witch-hunt. Moreover, if Governor DeSantis makes another run at it, he has said that he too could face the same legal headwinds that President Trump is facing."
Garcia on Monday said in a release disseminated by Patronis' office that "we're in the midst of an historic moment where we're watching an election that's trying to be stolen by left wing prosecutors, the Biden Administration and even Blue States. They're not trying to win at the ballot box; they're trying to keep President Trump off the ballot by weaponizing the courts. Having a Floridian in the White House is good for our state — and anything we can do to support Florida Presidential candidates, like President Trump, will not only benefit our state, but our nation."
But by Monday night, Garcia stated that she would withdraw the bill after DeSantis, who on Sunday announced the suspension of his 2024 presidential campaign, took to X/Twitter to express his opposition.
"Some Florida Republicans want taxpayers to pay Trump's legal bills," the governor wrote. "But not the Florida Republican who wields the veto pen."
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"This bill was filed on January 5th amidst a crowded primary, including two Florida residents," Garcia tweeted in response to the governor. "My concern was the political weaponization against conservative candidates, and while @JimmyPatronis brought me this bill at a time when all candidates were committing to campaign through the primary, one frontrunner now remains, and he can handle himself. I will be withdrawing the bill."
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, in a statement forwarded by her office, told Politico, "President Trump has the means to cover his legal expenses; however, many people do not, which is Senator Garcia's concern."
"You should reach out to Senator Garcia about her bill," Passidomo added. "She does a great job. It is not helpful or necessary for me to weigh in on every bill."
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As Politico noted, despite DeSantis' rejection, the future of the bill remained decidedly murky — "There was no House companion to the bill, and it was not something that Republican legislative leaders have been promoting during the start of this year's session."
Democrats sharply condemned the bill, blasting it as "a disgrace."
"What this shows you is who the Florida GOP is loyal to because it's certainly not the people of Florida," wrote Nikki Fried, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, in a text to Politico. "Senator Garcia's victim-card bill is a disgrace and should inflame any Floridian who cares about where their tax dollars are going."
In response to DeSantis's public disapproval of the legislation, Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Fla., tweeted "Absolutely not."
Read more
about Trump's legal woes
- Ex-Mueller prosecutor: Trump "desperately" trying to avoid trials out of fear of what will come out
- "It will cost him": Experts warn new E. Jean Carroll filing signals bad news for Trump
- Lawyer breaks silence on why he abruptly quit Trump team — predicts Trump could be convicted
- Trump lawyer objects to continuing trial amid illness — then complains about trial schedule
- Trump launches new attack on E. Jean Carroll — as her lawyer uses his own words against him
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One of the esteemed Republicans has offered up a bill to use $5 million dollars of Florida taxpayers money to help Trump pay his legal bill, now I seen it all.
$5 million for a guy that is supposed to be a billionaire and sucked the money out of his lemming followers for years now needs another $5 million.
For once DeSantis said he would veto it.
The bill is known ''victim card bill''
$5 million? pffft, trump can rack up that much defaming e jean carrol again while tweeting on the toilet in the middle of the night.
And after that he'll be selling toilet paper to his loyal followers, and they will buy it by the case.
“And after that he'll be selling toilet paper to his loyal followers…”
…or tossing a roll or two into the crowd, missing the point entirely.
Roll snide.
meh, I'd probably pay to wipe my ass with trump's face. how much?
Trump just needs to sell more digital trading cards and hats.
Or just a couple of gold toilets.
What escapes me is Trump is a very wealthy individual. Why would/should taxpayers be expected to cover his legal expenses?
He's a grifter, Doc. Always has been always will be, he doesn't know any other way.
That bill is crazy, if it is passed and DeSantis doesn't veto it the shit will fly in Florida.
So the 'gifts of love' donations from his sizable MAGA cult are not enough to cover all of his lawyer bills: One has to ask: Just how expensive is a Trump lawyer anyway? Can't he find a cheaper lawyer. . . in his 'budget' range? Non-cultists should not have to carry Trump's burden around, because he should/could choose not to incur such pricey lawyers!
He does have a very inexperienced lawyer don't know if she is cheap or not.
I dunno, I'm starting to wonder which bar she's actually a member of...
LOL!
Inexperienced? Trump has finally gotten down to scraping the bottom of lawyers, eh? Serves him right! I hope he loses his case/s, because he deserves too. Not because he challenges the system, but because he is desperately working to break the system and turn it to his/conservative 'bent.'
I read an article that she graduated from a law school that is rated in the bottom 20% of law schools in the US.
I can't remember the name of the school.
sears law school?
It is absolutely shameful that such a bill ever had any support whatsoever.
Makes one wonder what in the heck is in their heads. But we may end up with a war between Trump and DeSantis, the Florida showdown.
What is in their heads is how they see America: It exist to serve their indulgences and self-interests! Partly, the thinking seems to go that the Government is costing Trump all this trouble and not the factual problem of Trump running around setting off legal challenges to the rule of law in select states and the federal system. If Trump wants to go out that way, setting fires to the legal brush around him and under his control, then let him pay the cost. . . through his cult followers. Maybe, just maybe, they will see him for who he really is when the costs keeps steadily escalating higher or let him pay for it himself!
socialism, republican style...
Holy Hell! Funding legal fees with tax payer dollars for a criminal. Where do people come up with such stupid ideas?
This is Florida so any crazy idea is a good idea and I would suggest that they pulled that idea out of their ass.