Florida law enforcement officials are diverting unusual amounts of money to the security of Gov. Ron DeSantis — and some former officials are speaking out about it, reported NBC News on Thursday.
"Top officials insist the increase is not entirely to do with the governor's national political ambitions. Instead, they say, they are simply realigning resources after mismanagement by past leaders," reported Matt Dixon. "But that's hitting fierce pushback from some of those same past leaders, including from a former department commissioner and Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., who previously served as governor for two terms."
According to the report, it is incredibly unusual for a former top law enforcement official in Florida to contradict the claims made by the current officials.
"The finger-pointing comes at a time when the (Florida Department of Law Enforcement's) resources are being spread thinner because of the increased focus on protecting DeSantis as his presidential campaign begins and its increased focus on undocumented immigration — a top political priority for DeSantis that he regularly uses to criticize President Joe Biden, which is fueling the perception that the agency is becoming politicized," said the report.
"The efforts include stationing agents in the Florida Keys to watch for mostly Cuban migrants approaching Florida’s shores and sending teams of 40 to the southern border in Texas as part of a broader mission DeSantis said is aimed at preventing illegal border crossings."
Scott and DeSantis have had a cold relationship that has been well-documented for some time.
Rick Swearingen, an FDLE commissioner under Scott, said that the current agency claims that FLDE did not request the proper amount of resources for security is “simply not supported by facts.” He noted that despite all the extra security spending, protesters were able to get onstage with DeSantis at a New Hampshire fundraising dinner in April, and “perhaps leadership and management of resources is just as important as the number of resources.”
"Swearingen, the former FDLE commissioner, is not the only former FDLE official to criticize the department’s current leadership," said the report. "'There has been a push of trying to get FDLE to focus on topics the governor has highlighted, specifically immigration as the primary one,' said Jim Madden, a retired FDLE assistant commissioner. 'It is sad. We have fought those battles over the years about agency priorities and where it should focus, but right now in my mind, leadership there is just wholly inadequate. There is no solid independence with the agency.'"
