MIAMI — The prices for safeguarding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his household and visiting officers rose sharply during the last yr because the Republican presidential hopeful launched into an aggressive journey schedule and entered the GOP main.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement stated in a report launched this week that it spent greater than $8 million to guard the governor from July 2022 to June 2023. That went up practically 70% from the $4.8 million reported the earlier yr. FDLE’s complete safety prices to incorporate Florida first woman Casey DeSantis, their household, the governor’s mansion and visiting dignitaries had been $9.9 million, up from $6.1 million the earlier yr.
Florida regulation requires that the division of regulation enforcement present safety for the governor and his fast household whether or not or not he’s within the state.
DeSantis‘ press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, stated that the governor has required extra safety as his prominence has risen.
“His record as the most effective conservative governor in American history has also earned him an elevated threat profile, and FDLE has increased the number of protective agents to ensure the governor and his family remain safe,” Redfern stated in an announcement.
DeSantis has been touring broadly since he introduced he was working for the GOP presidential nomination. In the previous few weeks, DeSantis has dismissed issues about hurdles he faces attempting to develop his help. His polling numbers are stagnant as some have questioned his marketing campaign’s central message that he’s higher suited to defeat President Joe Biden subsequent fall.
The prices tallied within the Aug. 15 report embody somewhat greater than a month after he declared his candidacy on May 24. In that point, he traveled to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Arizona, Oklahoma, Nevada and Texas.
He and his workers had been concerned in a automotive accident in Tennessee, with one of many Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s brokers driving DeSantis‘ car, however was not harm.
Before he formally launched his marketing campaign, he additionally traveled to Israel, New York, and California, amongst different locations.
The annual report offered to the governor, his cupboard and Legislature doesn’t present a breakdown of the prices and simply listed that salaries to guard DeSantis totaled $5 million whereas transportation and expenditures totaled $3 million.
The Associated Press requested DeSantis’ calendar, journey schedule and different information in March, however his workplace has to this point declined to launch them.
The prices listed for dignitaries visiting the state practically tripled from $154,095 to $457,242. Not all of these dignitaries met with DeSantis. Included within the bills are visits from Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been in a public battle with DeSantis over Florida’s adoption of latest training requirements, which embody instruction that enslaved individuals benefited from abilities that they discovered.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com