Accused war criminal linked to firm DeSantis paid to train Florida State Guard: report

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used an emergency order to jam through a contract with a company that employs an accused war criminal to train his controversial State Guard, according to a report.

The state agreed to pay Stronghold SOF Solutions up to $1.2 million to recruit, evaluate and train volunteer members of the Florida State Guard, according to records reviewed by the Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald. The company's mission statement renews concerns that the governor might use it as a "secret police" force.

“We preserve the warrior culture by honoring its traditions, we prepare the future warfighter by delivering innovative training solutions, so we protect those who cannot do it themselves,” the company's mission statement reads.

DeSantis revived the World War II-era force to respond to emergencies, and it was activated for the first time this year to respond to Hurricane Idalia. But some of the military veterans who took part in the first training in June at Florida National Guard headquarters quit over its militia-like focus.

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Stronghold SOF Solutions specializes in training for “the warfighter and law enforcement officer," and the company highlights one of its trainers — former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, who was charged with war crimes and celebrated by Donald Trump — on its website, although it's not clear whether he has any role with the State Guard.

Fellow SEALs reported that Gallagher, who was their platoon leader, shot civilians and killed a captive Islamic State fighter while deployed in 2017 in Iraq, but he was later found not guilty on all charges except for posing with the combatant he had killed.

The governor reached an agreement with Stronghold during a state of emergency issued by DeSantis, according to a state database, and that could have allowed the state to waive requirements on procurement and vetting for vendors.

It's not clear how many State Guard members have been recruited or trained by Stronghold, but the company was paid $300,000 last month for work related to the force.