‘Frivolous:’ DeSantis’ Office Dismisses Nikki Fried Ethics Complaint as ‘Politically Motivated’
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office dismissed a recent ethics complaint as a “frivolous and politically motivated attack.”
Newly-elected Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried filed a complaint with the Florida Commission on Ethics against Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming he accepted prohibited gifts from his political committee.
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Fried announced her filing in a recent tweet, even asking Florida democrats to fund the attempt.
“I just filed a state ethics complaint against @GovRonDeSantis for accepting prohibited gifts from his political committee, including:
– $235k Four Seasons* Palm Beach
– $142k Four Seasons* Miami
– $11k Dirty French Steakhouse
*not the Total Landscaping kind”
I just filed a state ethics complaint against @GovRonDeSantis for accepting prohibited gifts from his political committee, including:
– $235k Four Seasons* Palm Beach
– $142k Four Seasons* Miami
– $11k Dirty French Steakhouse*not the Total Landscaping kind pic.twitter.com/CQi3jd2C5L
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) March 27, 2023
The text of the complaint draws tenuous connections between the Governor and the donations for the PAC. One example Fried gave was a donation from the PAC to Florida Four Seasons. Some supporters and donors to DeSantis stayed at the four seasons within the same month, enough for Fried to cry foul.
“On February 21, 2023, Friends of Ron DeSantis paid 235,244.52 to the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach…Media reports indicate that Ron DeSantis’ top donors and supporters gathered at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach for a three-day retreat to increase his national profile in advance of an anticipated run for the Republican nomination as President of the United States in 2024.”
DeSantis’ communications director Taryn Fenske, was not intimidated by the allegations, mocking them as partisan and empty.
“Just like the one from two weeks ago, we’ll just add this to the list of frivolous & politically motivated attacks. Louder for the Dems in the back: It’s inappropriate to use ethics complaints for partisan purposes.”
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Just like the one from two weeks ago, we’ll just add this to the list of frivolous & politically motivated attacks.
Louder for the Dems in the back: It’s inappropriate to use ethics complaints for partisan purposes. https://t.co/jpSkYRw2E3
— Taryn Fenske (@tarynfenske) March 27, 2023
Several other Observers on Twitter noted the same weakness in Fried’s case.
“Nothing in this complaint identifies how Ron DeSantis or his family benefitted from these expenditures,” one wrote.
There's nothing in your letter tying this to DeSantis. Friends of Ron DeSantis is independent of the Governor and you know it.
— The Cuban Dude (@dude_cuban) March 27, 2023
“There’s nothing in your letter tying this to DeSantis. Friends of Ron DeSantis is independent of the Governor, and you know it,” another said.
Exactly.. This is the Democratic way- just throw out blanket statements with no merit. It's as sad as Nikki is. She's a pathetic loser
— IrishChick3635 (@Chick3635I) March 27, 2023
A committee paid for hotel rooms!!?? 😱😱 I think it’s mostly a problem if they skipped out without paying, but you do you. You are an expert in ethics violations, you’ve had so many…..
— BeeLady🐝 (@miamivandynyu) March 28, 2023
As Fenske alluded, this ethics complaint comes on the heels of another spat with the Governor, in which Fried attacked him for giving an interview to British media titan Piers Morgan.
“Ron DeSantis retreated to a flipping @piersmorgan interview to try to save his failing campaign. Bahahahahahahaa. Hahahahahahahaa. Bahahahahahahah.”
Piers himself defended the Florida Governor, pointing out that Fried is throwing stones at glass house on the issue of campaign success, something several other Twitter users pointed out as well.
“No disrespect but if I were a Florida Democrat, I’d probably avoid talking about failing campaigns when it comes to a guy who just flatlined you….”
No disrespect but if I were a Florida Democrat, I’d probably avoid talking about failing campaigns when it comes to a guy who just flatlined you…. https://t.co/2TBZqxYI9P
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 21, 2023
“You lost to Charlie Crist by 30 points Bahahahahaha Hahahahahaha,” one wrote.
You lost to Charlie Crist by 30 points
Bahahahahaha
Hahahahahaha— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) March 21, 2023
Fried handled Morgan’s criticism with the class any observer would come to expect, implying Morgan recently going solo delegitimizes his journalistic credentials but not addressing his point.
“Lots of disrespect, but if I were a legitimate journalist, I’d have a job at a legitimate news outlet. And yet here you are. Pathetic.”
Lots of disrespect, but if I were a legitimate journalist, I'd have a job at a legitimate news outlet.
And yet here you are. Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/eu6xUafrJ3
— Nikki Fried (@NikkiFried) March 21, 2023
Another Twitter observer put it best.
“You’re embarrassing yourself, Nikki.”
You're embarrassing yourself, Nikki.
— target_locked (@LockedReddit) March 21, 2023
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