Gabrielle Russon
Democrats are accusing Gov. Ron DeSantis of going on a witch hunt to find fraudulent Amendment 4 petitions that helped place a measure to protect abortion rights on the November ballot.
At a virtual press conference, elected officials and party leaders slammed DeSantis for what they said was a weaponization of state resources to fight Amendment 4.
Election police have knocked on doors questioning people who signed the petitions to put the issue on the ballot, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
A state government health agency also recently launched a “transparency page” campaigning against Amendment 4.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, called the searches a “witch hunt” and “political theater by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his cronies who are just so desperate to maintain Florida’s near total abortion ban that they were fishing for any type of information.”
DeSantis said the Florida Department of State found one group that collected petitions on behalf of dead people. Other petition signatures did not match the voter files, he said.
“Our tolerance in the state of Florida for any type of election related fraud is zero. We are not going to put up with it,” DeSantis said Monday as he warned that fraudulent petitions will be forwarded to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Democrats said Monday that they didn’t buy DeSantis’ claims. The pointed out that county Supervisor of Elections’ Offices — led by elected officials from both parties — approved the nearly 1 million petitions for Amendment 4, and the Florida Department of State also verified them.
“It just seems that if there were any fraud allegations, those would have been uncovered much sooner. I think what’s really happening is that these extremists are feeling like their backs are against the ropes,” said House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell. “They feel this is slipping away from them because the people of Florida want Amendment 4 to pass, and so now they’re just grasping at straws and throwing anything at the wall to see what will stick.”
Driskell said DeSantis is desperate following a string of high-profile failures, from his unsuccessful presidential run to the latest backlash over developing state parks.
“With embarrassment after embarrassment, what we see is they are getting very desperate and trying to weaponize state government against its own people,” Driskell said.
Meanwhile, DeSantis defended the state agency’s website against Amendment 4.
“Everything is above board. We have resources to do public service announcements across a wide variety of fronts,” DeSantis said. “Everything that’s put out is factual. … It’s things that can absolutely be done through these public service announcements and I’m glad they’re doing it. I think it’s informative.”
On Nov. 5, Floridians will decide Amendment 4 which seeks to enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Florida’s six-week abortion ban went into effect in May.
31 comments
Politics 🤣
September 9, 2024 at 2:50 pm
Closed minded is also obnoxiously bad. Like shut down and don’t saying make them all go out of business if I don’t get my Way real danger folks real damgers
Joe
September 11, 2024 at 10:30 am
what
Politics 🤣
September 9, 2024 at 2:52 pm
Closed minded is also obnoxiously bad . Like shut down the working order of the government unless I get my way.
Stephen D
September 9, 2024 at 2:55 pm
I hope amendment 4 fails. Abortion equates to murder. Put the peoples money to work by improving and expanding resources to women to allow them to bring the child to delivery and beyond.
Dale
September 10, 2024 at 8:17 am
You mean forcing women to bring the child to delivery and beyond.
cassandra was right
September 10, 2024 at 12:59 pm
Abortion is not murder. Ridiculous too that you think you and Ron DeSantis have ANY right to decide what goes on inside another person’s body!
FREEDOM!
WE’RE NOT GOING BACK!
rick whitaker
September 10, 2024 at 1:19 pm
STEPHEN D, does the d in your name stand for dinosaur? that’s what you sound like. people like you are discussing. you live in the distant past and you are critical of us that live in the present. pitiful dude.
Jojo
September 10, 2024 at 3:05 pm
You know what Stephen? If you don’t want an abortion,don’t get one. In the meantime back off trying to dictate to women what to do with their own bodies
Ocean Joe
September 10, 2024 at 4:56 pm
Stevie fell into the briar patch.
Savannah Moore
September 11, 2024 at 9:42 pm
It will pass. Go cry about it, pig.
ScienceBLVR
September 9, 2024 at 2:57 pm
Election police have knocked on doors questioning people who signed the petitions to put the issue on the ballot, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Election Police!?!
Whomp..
There it is..
Oh boy, please come to my door, please please
Michael K
September 9, 2024 at 3:40 pm
Similar things are happening in Texas to long-time Latino community activists – and now Texas wants to go after women who leave the state for reproductive health care.
This is not freedom. Republican governors and their enablers are overreaching and trying to disenfranchise citizens.
tom palmer
September 9, 2024 at 4:10 pm
The only election fraud I’ve seen in Florida involves Republicans, but nice try Rhonda
Jojo
September 9, 2024 at 5:34 pm
When they start using these tactics you know they’re desperate
Ocean Joe
September 9, 2024 at 6:20 pm
Governor, on Amendments 3 and 4 get ready for your cowbell serenade.
You and Florida’s pitiful cuck legislature ought to listen to what the people want for a change.
Thom Jefferson
September 9, 2024 at 6:39 pm
I hope the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution prevails. Specifically, the Establishment clause. Seems like when you leave a place where one religion has the backing of the state, and others are prohibited or discriminated against, you want freedom both of religion and from the religion of others.
And when sending the ‘election police’ out to verify signatures equates to expanding resources to women to allow them to bring children to delivery, you be sure to let me know.
Have a blessed day my friend.
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
September 9, 2024 at 6:45 pm
Good evening Sage Patriots,
Relax your Political Sphincters as our 2028 POTUS Ron DeSantis and ELVIS [FKA EARL] would never make false acusations.
IF RON SAYS WE CAUGHT THE DEMOCRATS CHEATING THAN ITS A FACT.
Since the Admendment 4 is on a Presidental Ballot the Guilty Cheating Dook 4 Brains Leftists found guilty will do Hard Time in Prison.
This “Golden Nugg of Sage Wisdom has been brought to you courtsey of ELVIS [FKA EARL,
Thank you Sage Patriots,
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
rick whitaker
September 10, 2024 at 1:29 pm
EARL SHITTS, why do you constantly want everyone to relax their sphincters? is that because you are a disgusting homosexual anal freak that is hiding their intentions. come on dude, come out of the closet. don’t be ashamed of your sexuality. you are free to let your gay flag fly. you are not disgusting for being gay, but for denying that you ARE gay.
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
September 10, 2024 at 6:58 pm
Thanks, Rick, as always for your Wacky Leftist Follow-Up postings to my Sage Wisdom. You are just the best at making me, ELVIS [FKA EARL], the best.
And Rick its great to see that you are finally taking the health of your sphincter serously. Try to keep it “Relaxed” during tonights Sage Debate I dont want to have to take you to the hospital again for another painfull “SPHINCTER LOCK-UP”,
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
rick whitaker
September 11, 2024 at 4:34 pm
EARL SHITTS, you didn’t answer my question about you coming out of the closet. you just tried to distract by ranting your usual tired schtick. come on, answer my question about the closet.
ELVIS [FKA EARL]
September 11, 2024 at 6:37 pm
Thanks again Sage Rick,
Nope …. not a homertestical ….. it’s our “Political Sphincters” which I try and get our Great Nation to Relax.
Plus its an omage to Mr. Taggart from his classic line in Blazing Saddles.
ELVIS [FKA EARL]9
Childless Cat Lady
September 10, 2024 at 12:50 am
This story has reached the Washington Post! Didn’t Republicans think this idiot a rising star?
Elmo
September 10, 2024 at 7:03 am
Voter intimidation, period. Ron DeSantis is a fascist Nazi pig working his hardest to take freedoms from Floridians.
Stay awake!
September 10, 2024 at 7:17 am
Make it no secret, Deathsantis is trying to switch the conversation to condos to call a special legislative session. There’s a secret agenda to act on other issues before the agenda. Don’t be caught asleep!
Ron DeSantos is a big loser
September 10, 2024 at 8:02 am
Rona DeSatan thinks our taxpayer dollars are his personal slush fund. Never in Florida history have we seen this type of authoritarian BS. What a little Nazi anti-democratic loser Rona is. He can kiss DonOld Tramp’s dirty diaper!
LexT
September 10, 2024 at 8:49 am
The Democrats need to embrace election security and transparency. Every group that collects these types of signatures gets more than they need and my guess is this will have no impact other than to punish people who CHEATED and used dead people to sign for petitions. That is no different than any other election fraud. They need to be punished, not badly, but enough to help prevent it in the future. The Democrats need to get away from advocating for no election transparency.
cassandra was right
September 10, 2024 at 11:20 am
You are really confused! When DeSantis cooked up this scheme to intimidate voters by sending his armed police into voters’ homes, the Amendment 4 signatures had already been verified. And, the deadline for challenges had passed.
The little tyrant is furious that voters are telling him to get his nose out of women’s bodies and healthcare!
It’s about FREEDOM
Vote YES on Amendment 4
rick whitaker
September 10, 2024 at 1:36 pm
LEXT, were the republicans in the village that got caught cheating punished? i don’t expect you to honestly answer my inquiry. maga cultist have lost contact with the truth, and you sound like one.
Politics 🤣
September 10, 2024 at 10:07 am
Life and Liberty but someone voted no entitlement for elders or disabled. And now says shov it to women.
Dont Say FLA
September 11, 2024 at 9:34 am
Turnip J Truck dug the GOP into a MAGA hell hole.
Rhonda’s solution? Grab a shovel and keep on digging.
Stand Your Ground
September 11, 2024 at 9:37 am
Everybody who signed, please remember that Florida is a stand your ground state and your home is your most sacred ground. Somebody knocks on your door you tell them to go away. They knock again, whatever happens next, you were on your most sacred ground and felt your life and safety were in stranger danger from the knocking stranger that refused to leave as you had instructed them to do. And don’t forget to save your Ring doorcam video of the encounter because truth is an absolute defense.
Comments are closed.