Trump indictment could land as early as Monday, sending law enforcement scrambling
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DeSantis says he won’t get involved in Trump’s potential extradition
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday told reporters he won’t get involved in Donald Trump’s potential extradition if the former president is indicted by the Manhattan district attorney.
In his first comments on Trump’s likely indictment, DeSantis said he only knew about “rumors” of a pending arrest of Trump related to an investigation into payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election cycle.
“I have no interest in getting involved in some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA,” said DeSantis, making a reference to billionaire donor George Soros’s support of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “He’s trying to do a political spectacle … I’ve got real issues I’ve got to deal with here in the state of Florida.”
Under Florida law, the governor can intervene in an extradition matter if it is contested. But Trump’s lawyers have told media outlets that the president would likely surrender if he is indeed indicted.
Trump announced on Saturday that he could be arrested as soon as Tuesday and called on supporters to protest the decision.
Over the last two days, Trump allies have repeatedly zinged DeSantis for failing to jump to Trump’s defense like other supporters of the president, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. They have urged him to use his power as governor since Trump is a Florida resident.
DeSantis is expected to jump into the 2024 presidential race sometime after the annual Florida legislative session ends in May, setting himself up to be in direct competition with Trump.
Like other Republicans, DeSantis on Monday sharply criticized Bragg — but he also downplayed its seriousness.
He said Bragg’s decision to investigate Trump instead of battle crime in New York City was an example of a “political agenda” that showed that Bragg was “weaponizing” his office.
“I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair,” DeSantis said.
