by JULIE KELLY
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has a canned response when asked any question related to the events of January 6, 2021: It’s time to move on.
On the campaign trail, DeSantis often claims that January 6 will be a losing issue in the general election. The governor repeated that warning at the debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday night, insisting the 2024 election “is not about January 6 of 2021, it’s about January 20 of 2025.”
DeSantis has neatly sidestepped the matter of January 6 since announcing his run for president, entirely avoiding any mention of the date until recently. Radio show host Clay Travis asked DeSantis in May whether he would consider pardoning January 6 defendants if he became president; DeSantis pivoted away from the question to instead talk about the DOJs targeting of pro-life activists and parents protesting at school board meetings.
When pressed, DeSantis again refused to directly reply. “[Any] example of disfavored treatment based on politics or weaponization would be included in that review, no matter how small or how big.”
DeSantis finally can bring himself to say “January 6” but only to dismiss it as a legitimate campaign issue or to blame Donald Trump for what happened that day. Cribbing talking points from Nancy Pelosi’s January 6 select committee, DeSantis recently told a crowd of supporters that Trump failed to stop the protest at the Capitol despite Trump’s inability to do so. “I think it was shown how [Trump] was in the White House and didn’t do anything while things were going on. He should have come out more forcefully,” DeSantis said in South Carolina last month.
Yet no matter how hard DeSantis tries to rewrite the account of January 6 or wish away the issue on the campaign trail, it’s not going anywhere. And contrary to his claims, it is Democrats, not Republicans, who plan to make January 6 a key if not the top issue in the 2024 election.
Proceedings in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s federal case and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ state case will remain the focus of Joe Biden’s re-election campaign. Team Biden plans to remind Americans every day how close Donald Trump came to “overthrowing democracy” on January 6 and that the country cannot take a chance by electing the MAGA-Terrorist-In-Chief again. That strategy also will apply to DeSantis if he is the nominee.
No Escaping the Democrats’ Noose of January 6
What DeSantis clearly doesn’t see coming is how Democrats will hang January 6 around his neck if he defeats Trump for the nomination. After all, it’s no coincidence that Florida by far has the greatest number of defendants charged in DOJs criminal prosecution of January 6. Florida residents currently represent roughly 10 percent of the total caseload.
Florida also is home to the highest number of defendants convicted of seditious conspiracy, a crime tantamount to treason. Next week, two Florida residents—Enrique Tarrio and Joseph Biggs—will be sentenced for seditious conspiracy and other January 6 related convictions. Prosecutors are seeking more than three decades in prison for both men.
Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia responsible for handling each January 6 case, continues to investigate and arrest Capitol protesters including individuals from Florida. Earlier this month, Graves’ office announced the arrest of a man from Marathon, Florida for allegedly assaulting police on January 6. A D.C. judge last week sentenced a Lakeland man to 18 months in prison for civil disorder and misdemeanor convictions. Faced with the wrath of a Biden appointed federal judge, a man from Pompano Beach just pleaded guilty to several offenses and now faces years in prison.
A Naples man convicted by another D.C. judge on multiple charges is now on the lam. Graves’ office has asked for 14 years in prison for Christopher Worrell, who left his home on August 18, four days before his sentencing hearing. He has not been heard from since.
Now, just imagine how Joe Biden, Democrats, and the news media will use those figures against DeSantis. They will claim Florida is a hotbed for breeding “insurrectionists” and “extremists,” that DeSantis’ loyalty to Trump inspired his own constituents to travel to Washington and “attack” the Capitol, that a President DeSantis will embolden the rise of more violent “domestic terrorists.”
And what will his response be? Let’s just “move on?” Such a weak argument might work among a weak field of Republican presidential candidates—except for Donald Trump, of course—but it won’t fly in a general election campaign.
A Walking Contradiction
Further, DeSantis’ promise that he will “end the weaponization” of the DOJ and FBI if elected president is inconsistent with his cowardly approach to January 6. (Defendants and relatives complain that requests to meet with DeSantis to discuss their plight have been ignored. My own outreach to DeSantis’ office—directly and through intermediaries—to brief the governor or staffers about the political persecution of Florida residents also has been ignored. I am not aware of DeSantis meeting with any January 6 defendant over the past 2 ½ years.)
Politically DeSantis is done. Not sure if Florida has term limits but he will need some serious recovery if he wants to be relevant in 2028. Not looking good for Ron.
Cute to blame Trump when it’s becoming pretty obvious that leftist instigators filled the ranks in the Jan 6th crowd.
Leftists, including Ray Epps and Utah’s BLM director played pivotal roles in making the scene look bad.
Watch the scenes without any sound of reporters blasting them as “insurrectionists,” and you see it was peaceful except for Ray and those he brought with him.
Up until capitol hill pd started shooting pepper spray everywhere and killing people.
Lately leftist instigators have been planting themselves in crowds and trying to rile up Trump supporters.
They are also playing dirty tricks, like getting Mar A Lago listed as “for sale,” then claiming Trump is broke.
With I had bought that place for only $2 mill a few years ago. It’s now worth over $450 MILL!
Only one reason DeSantis is not being targeted by the leftist instigators: he’s uniparty and they all know it.
Leftist investigators haven’t been in both state and federal jurisdictions for trying to overturn an election through lies, fraud, and pressure campaigns directed toward elected officials.
Leftist investigators didn’t break their oaths of office and pressure others to do the same.
Leftist investigators didn’t recently suggest on their social website that might be necessary to suspend the U.S. Constitution.
Do you not listen to what this guy is saying?
Greg you are off your nut, “suggest” is just a propaganda way of saying twisted the words. The Democrats an DS spent 4 years trying to overthrow 2016. Russains lol.
The man you believe to be presidential material is selling mugshot merchandise. Before, it was non-fungible superhero trading cards.
Donald Trump on Truth Social, December 3, 2022:
Well, once the Democrats has destroyed the credibility and integrity of the 2020 election, that is a valid question; what DO you do to actually satisfy the true will of the people? Most knew idiot Biden would be a disaster and the majority wanted more of the prosperity and security Trump provided. Only the stupidest of naive fools think otherwise.
The piece of shit YOU believe to be President forced his young daughter to shower with him, raped Tara Reade, enjoyed walking around naked in front of female USSS agents and committed treason by taking bribes to undercut the US energy industry and the American people. So, what’s a few mug shot shirts? I’ll buy one. Maybe two.
You know what would have completely avoided January 6th? Democrats not committing widespread election fraud on November 3rd.
https://media.gab.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=852,quality=100,fit=scale-down/system/media_attachments/files/146/283/509/original/99e27780b090ecf8.webp
Dems really messed up by arresting Trump and taking his mugshot in Georgia.
Now, blacks, dems all their adult lives, are coming out for Trump and making it widely known.
This guy has quite the potty mouth, but his message is sincere:
https://gab.com/Hawkeye1111/posts/110953352861250035/media/1?timeline=video-clips
Lots more online.
All because dems wanted to “destroy Trump,” via Jan 6th.
Isn’t that hilarious? Everyone said if they took Trump’s mug shot, he would exploit it. But Georgia just HAD to unnecessarily take his mug shot, just to add one more scene to their little fascist play and, SURPRISE!!, Trump is using the mug shot to raise funds. How stupid ARE these crybabies? Can it be measured on the stupid-o-meter or is it off the charts?
08/28/23 – Florida Governor Ron Desantis booed at vigil as hundreds mourn more racist killings –
Apparently Floridians have forgotten how Desantis kept them safe from the terrible Mickey Mouse Menace.
The only Mickey Mouse Menace is idiot Biden. He couldn’t address the Maui disaster for over a week, but when there is a gun crime and racism to exploit, he’s on the job! What a complete and transparent racist. DeSantis fought the grooming of children for sexual abuse so the left hates him.
The shooter just feared for his life, like Michael Byrd. People can shoot innocent people if they “fear for their life”. A racist that lived at home. Sounds like a Democrat.