Florida Governor and 2024 Republican Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis did not hold back in expressing his disdain for the recent indictment of former President Trump, labeling Washington, D.C. a “swamp.”
Three Indictments And Counting
Trump faced a historic third indictment on Tuesday, as a Washington grand jury charged him with four counts related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. These charges mark the gravest allegations ever brought against a former U.S. president.
In a swift reaction to the news, DeSantis took to Twitter to voice his criticism. He wrote, “While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment. I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, DC to their home districts.”
He further asserted that Washington, D.C. “is a ‘swamp’ and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality.”
DeSantis argued that the indictment underscores the weaponization of the government. He stated, “One of the reasons our country is in decline is the politicization of the rule of law. No more excuses—I will end the weaponization of the federal government.”
The 45-page indictment, presented by special counsel Jack Smith, outlines four charges against Trump: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.
The document further notes, “Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power. So for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won.”
Trump’s initial court appearance for this case is set for Thursday in federal court in Washington, D.C., presided over by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, as detailed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia’s docket.
Ron DeSantis Back Trump
DeSantis maintains that dwelling on the 2020 debate could further taint American political discourse. Expressing a forward-focused approach, he states, “Revisiting events from four years ago wouldn’t benefit us; my focus is on the future.”
While Ron DeSantis has consistently ranked second only to Trump among GOP voters, his stats could soon be fading, at least this time around. The Florida politician has been trailing Trump by a considerable margin in polls. This struggle to gain traction has raised concerns among Republicans, with some reconsidering their personal bids for the nomination.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
From 19FortyFive
The Second American Civil War Has Begun
