The head of a Donald Trump-aligned super PAC filed an ethics complaint against Ron DeSantis as the former president and current Florida governor seek to out-maneuver one another ahead of an anticipated 2024 Republican presidential primary contest.
(Bloomberg) — The head of a Donald Trump-aligned super PAC filed an ethics complaint against Ron DeSantis as the former president and current Florida governor seek to out-maneuver one another ahead of an anticipated 2024 Republican presidential primary contest.
Taylor Budowich, head of Make America Great Again Inc., filed a letter dated Tuesday with the Florida Commission on Ethics over allegations DeSantis — who hasn’t officially entered the race — is benefiting from an undeclared shadow campaign for president.
“Governor DeSantis knows, or should know, that his shadow presidential campaign is illegal under federal election law, Florida ethics laws prohibiting illegal gifts from political committees, and Florida ethics laws prohibiting illegal lobbying payments,” the letter, released by MAGA Inc., said.
DeSantis communications director Taryn Fenske said in a statement the letter adds to the “frivolous and politically motivated attacks” on the Florida governor and that “it’s inappropriate to use state ethics complaints for partisan purposes.”
DeSantis hasn’t formally announced a 2024 presidential bid, but he’s been going through the motions. He’s made campaign-style visits to Iowa and other early voting states to promote his recently released book. His advisers are talking to Republican operatives about joining his team to work in Iowa, which holds the first-in-the-nation caucus for Republicans.
The Florida governor is widely expected to officially launch his campaign sometime after the Florida legislative session ends in May.
Most polls show Trump and DeSantis leading a field of announced and expected Republican presidential candidates. A RealClearPolitics average of GOP presidential nomination surveys shows Trump leading DeSantis by 14.4 percentage points with all other rivals in the single digits.
Trump has intensified attacks on DeSantis in recent weeks, criticizing him for votes in Congress to reduce spending on Medicare and Social Security and calling him “Ron DeSanctimonius.” The former president told reporters on Monday he considers DeSantis his strongest challenger for the nomination.
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