Florida official wants DeSantis investigated for 'political human trafficking'

by WEAR Staff

Fri, September 16th 2022 at 12:57 PM

A woman, who is part of a group of immigrants that had just arrived, holds a child as they are fed outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday flew two planes of immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they consider to be the Biden administration's failed border policies. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP)

Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday flew two planes of immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they consider to be the Biden administration's failed border policies. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP)

A man, who is part of a group of immigrants that had just arrived, flashes a thumbs up Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday flew two planes of immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they consider to be the Biden administration's failed border policies. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP)

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A woman, who is part of a group of immigrants that had just arrived, holds a child as they are fed outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday flew two planes of immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they consider to be the Biden administration's failed border policies. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP)

TOPICS:

Florida,United States

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WEAR) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried is asking the Department of Justice to investigate Gov. Ron DeSantis for "political human trafficking."

This comes after two planes transported 50 immigrants from San Antonio to Martha's Vineyard.

DeSantis' office confirmed that he ordered the two planes carrying migrants be taken to Martha's Vineyard.

"It also appears Ron illegally used taxpayer money to fund this vile stunt," Fried said in a tweet Thursday. "I don’t care how long it takes, we will hold him accountable for this."

The governor's office says the flights are paid for by the taxpayers.

Florida's legislature has earmarked $12 million to transport "unauthorized aliens" out of state, according to the Associated Press.

“We are not a sanctuary state and it’s better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction," DeSantis said Thursday. "Yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures."

In Fried's letter to the Department of Justice asking for an investigation into the matter, she wrote:

The use of human beings to score political points is first and foremost detestable. Additionally, this maneuver raises serious legal questions and will have untold repercussions on the individuals caught up in the Governor's political stunt. An investigation is necessary to understand who these immigrants are, how they were transported across state lines, and if their rights were violated.

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