The Florida Ethics Commission shut down complaints about political activity from Ron DeSantis Friday.
Gripes from Nikki Fried and a political committee (MAGA, Inc.) associated with former President Donald Trump were thrown out.
The Trump complaint purported to provide "ample evidence that Gov. DeSantis and various political committees have engaged in conduct that violated Florida ethics law." It contended DeSantis has flouted Florida's "resign to run" law while "skirting federal campaign finance laws," adding that could present an "impermissible conflict between his public duty and his private interests."
The Trump complaint also charged DeSantis with having "solicited and accepted a multitude of gifts premised on the understanding that he will run for President." Named in the document are various committees presumably supportive of this aim, including Friends of Ron DeSantis, Ready for Ron, Ron to the Rescue, Courageous Conservatives PAC, the Republican State Leadership Committee, And to the Republic, and Run Ron Run!
However, the Ethics Commission rejected the presentation as speculative, as well as rejected the presumption that the Governor had abused his public position by holding events in conjunction with his book, The Courage to be Free.
Ultimately, the complaint was considered legally insufficient.
Fried's complaint revolved around political committee activity; purported "gifts" from DeSantis' state-level Friends of Ron DeSantis political committee that she alleged violated a statutory ban, particularly in light of the Governor being termed out of office in 2026.
The Fried complaint cited more than $235,000 in spending from the DeSantis political committee when "top donors and supporters gathered at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach for a three-day retreat as part of an effort to increase his national profile in advance of an anticipated run for the Republican nomination as President of the United States in 2024."
That complaint likewise was ruled to be legally insufficient. Furthermore, the Ethics Commission rejected the complaints attempt to conflate Ron DeSantis with the political committee bearing his name.
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