Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed an executive order allowing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to open a criminal investigation into an apparent assassination attempt of Donald Trump in West Palm Beach. Mr. DeSantis said it is not in America’s interests for the FBI, which seeks to “persecute Trump,” to conduct an investigation into threats on his life. The Governor said that Floridian law enforcement has jurisdiction over the “most serious, readily provable offense: attempted murder.”
Explaining why state rather than federal authorities should investigate the incident, DeSantis said Florida will be more transparent and he does not “want any of the information kept under wraps.”
The incident happened while Donald Trump played on his Florida golf course, observed by Secret Service agents. One agent noticed a rifle peeking through a hedge near the former President and immediately opened fire. The suspect fled the scene but was arrested within the hour. Police later identified him as 58-year-old Ryan Routh, who is reportedly a passionate pro-Ukraine activist who had traveled to Eastern Europe to campaign on behalf of troops and civilians.
In the aftermath, former President Trump met with Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, who reportedly urged him to give more notice of his planned golf outings, or events where he would be exposed to the public, so the Service could better prepare his protection.
At a subsequent town hall campaign event in Flint, Michigan, Mr. Trump described the incident and said agents “grabbed” him and maneuvered him into a golf cart to take him to safety. He described hearing “four or five” gunshots before the Secret Service hauled him away. Questioned about whether the two assassination attempts had affected him, the former President stated that he tried not to think about it.
Trump’s running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, blamed Democratic rhetoric for both incidents and called on his political opponents to stop describing Mr. Trump as a threat to democracy. He said most people will ignore this claim, but some will believe it and “take matters into their own hands.”
Critics pointed out, however, that Donald Trump has repeatedly described Kamala Harris as a communist, a Marxist, and a fascist and warned that she will ultimately destroy America if she is elected to the White House in November.