FDP News
Florida Democratic Party Responds to Republican Caucus Chaos Led By Matt Gaetz
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2023
FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY RESPONDS TO REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CHAOS LED BY MATT GAETZ
Tallahassee, FL — On Monday night, Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-01) introduced a Motion to Vacate the Office of the Speaker, throwing the House Republican Caucus into chaos. Today, that motion passed, removing Speaker Kevin McCarthy from power. In response, the Florida Democratic Party has issued the following statement:
“Matt Gaetz is an agent of chaos,” said FDP Chair Nikki Fried, “and today’s Motion to Vacate proves that. Because of his personal vendettas, Republicans are left to fight over who’s in charge when they should be working across the aisle to govern.
“The people of the Panhandle elected Matt Gaetz to represent them, but the only person he cares about representing is himself. He trafficks in disruption and dysfunction not because it helps his district, but because that’s how he gets attention from the media.
“Americans deserve good government led by adults, not a circus led by power-hungry politicians who will do anything to get in front of a camera. While the Republican Party is in disarray, Democrats across the country are united in a common goal — provide common sense solutions to the problems faced by the American people.”
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~~Letrecia Brown, Lee County DEC State Committeewoman
FDP Files Ethics and Elections Complaints Against the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
FDP Files Ethics and Elections Complaints Against the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
Tallahassee, FL — Recent reporting from NBC News has accused Governor Ron DeSantis, along with officials in the Executive Office of the Governor of unethical and illegal solicitation of campaign contributions from lobbyists. Subsequent reporting by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has accused the same officials of unethical and illegal solicitation of endorsements for the governor’s presidential campaign during meetings with lawmakers about the state budget.
In response, the Florida Democratic Party has taken the following steps:
On behalf of the Florida Democratic Party, FDP Chair Nikki Fried has filed three complaints against Governor DeSantis’s executive staff with the Florida Commission on Ethics — one each against Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, Legislative Affairs Director Stephanie Kopelousos, and Director of Policy and Budget Chris Spencer.
In addition, Chair Fried has filed three complaints against the same individuals with the Florida Elections Commission.
“These allegations represent a gross violation of state laws and ethics,” said Chair Fried, “and we could not in good conscience ignore them. If true, they are yet another example of Ron abusing his public office for personal gain. Public officials are employed to serve the people of Florida, not line Ron’s pockets.
“Any reasonable person could infer from the reporting that our Governor was holding the state budget hostage in exchange for political endorsements and donations — actions that are both unethical and illegal. This corrupt scheme to generate fake support for his failing presidential campaign is both a major threat to our democracy and a sad look into the psyche of a man whose ambitions have driven him and his sycophants to lives of crime.
“The complaints system is designed to help prevent this kind of abuse of power, and the people of Florida deserve swift and just rulings from both commissions. Future elected officials need to know that they can’t intimidate and harass people into getting what they want — Ron could use that reminder as well.”
