In a candid interview on Thursday night, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accused federal authorities of refusing to cooperate with state officials in their investigation of a second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The governor, appearing on Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, revealed that federal investigators have been uncooperative, hindering Florida’s efforts to conduct an independent investigation into the incident that took place over the weekend at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.
Earlier this week, DeSantis signed an executive order authorizing Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to lead a criminal probe into the assassination attempt. The incident has raised significant concerns about both the security of high-profile political figures and the transparency of federal investigations.
“The answer is ‘no,’ they’re not being cooperative,” DeSantis responded when host Laura Ingraham asked about the level of cooperation between federal and state authorities. “I am concerned. For example, our investigators were rebuffed just going to the fence line outside of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.”
The governor expressed frustration with the Biden administration, claiming that federal agencies are deliberately obstructing the state’s investigation. According to DeSantis, the current administration seems to be intentionally keeping Florida out of the loop.
“They do not want the state of Florida to be involved in the investigation,” DeSantis said. “I don’t expect them to cooperate at all.”
Violations of Florida Law and the Need for State Involvement
DeSantis highlighted that the assassination attempt involves violations of Florida law across multiple jurisdictions, which he believes justifies the state’s involvement in the case.
“There were multiple violations of Florida law across multiple jurisdictions,” he said. “We think at least three judicial circuits have seen potential violations of our state laws in this case. So, we have a duty to investigate, bring appropriate charges, and inform the public about what really happened.”
The governor underscored the importance of Florida’s independent investigation, expressing concerns over the public’s trust—or lack thereof—in the federal inquiry. He argued that the American people deserve transparency and that the state has a duty to ensure that all legal avenues are pursued.
“We have a duty to bring the appropriate charges and a duty to inform the public about how this happened,” he said, emphasizing the need for a thorough state-led investigation. DeSantis suggested that the public has little confidence in the federal investigation, which motivated him to take decisive action at the state level.
Concerns Over Digital Evidence and Transparency
In the interview, DeSantis also touched on the importance of securing digital evidence related to the attempted assassination. He instructed Florida law enforcement officials to gather and preserve all social media activity linked to the suspect, warning that tech companies might delete crucial information.
“As soon as we got word of this on Sunday, I told our state law enforcement team to save all his social media because you know Facebook will delete it, the tech companies will want to erase it,” DeSantis said. “Get his digital trail, store that, because we need to know: how did he end up in Florida to begin with? What was this pathway he took to get here and attempt to assassinate the former president and current Republican nominee? How did this happen?”
DeSantis’ remarks signal his concern that important evidence could be lost if immediate action is not taken. The governor indicated that part of the state’s investigation would focus on gathering evidence related to the suspect’s motives, associations, and beliefs, which he believes are critical to understanding how the attempt unfolded.
Frustration Over Previous Unsolved Incidents
In addition to discussing the current case, DeSantis pointed to other instances where he believes the federal government has failed to provide satisfactory answers, including the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and other unsolved criminal investigations.
“We still have not gotten answers about Butler,” DeSantis said, referring to the location where Trump was injured in an earlier incident in July. “We have not gotten answers about things like the Las Vegas shooting from many years ago.”
The governor’s frustration highlights a broader dissatisfaction with federal investigations into high-profile incidents. He made it clear that Florida’s independent probe would aim to provide the public with the full story, something he believes has been lacking in other cases.
A Call for Transparency
As the state of Florida moves forward with its own investigation, DeSantis assured the public that his administration would work diligently to uncover the truth. He emphasized that the investigation will focus on providing evidence of the suspect’s motives, associations, and any other factors that may have played a role in the attempted assassination.
“I think it’s very important for the public to get the real story on that,” DeSantis concluded, reiterating his commitment to transparency in the state’s investigation.
Governor DeSantis’ decision to launch an independent investigation into the assassination attempt underscores the increasing tensions between state and federal authorities. As the investigation unfolds, the nation will be watching closely to see what Florida uncovers and how the federal government responds to the allegations of non-cooperation.
Tonight I joined Laura Ingraham to discuss Florida’s investigation into the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/k0OyUJDvr7
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) September 19, 2024