In a calculated move to energize Republican voters, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida strategically posed in front of a helicopter at the Texas border on Sunday. However, this photo op has brought unwanted attention to DeSantis, as it was revealed that the helicopter was funded by Texas taxpayers, raising questions about the nature of the flight and its expenses.
According to federal law, presidential candidates are required to pay fair-market rates for noncommercial air travel and reimburse flight providers. In this case, the Texas Department of Public Safety owns the helicopter in question. Moreover, ethics rules in Texas prohibit officials from using state resources to support political campaigns.
While Mr. DeSantis’s office suggested that his visit to the border served dual purposes as both governor and presidential candidate, his official schedule as governor made no mention of it. When asked about the helicopter flight, Mr. DeSantis’s spokesman referred inquiries to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
The Texas Department of Public Safety stated that Mr. DeSantis received a briefing on joint immigration enforcement activities and was given an aerial tour to understand how Florida’s resources are being used at the border. This tour was part of Operation Lone Star — a program aimed at tackling border challenges in collaboration with Florida.
On the same day that the helicopter photo was shared on Twitter by Mr. DeSantis’s campaign, he proposed a series of strict immigration policies in a campaign speech in Eagle Pass, a small Texas border city.
To symbolize his divided responsibilities, Mr. DeSantis wore a white shirt with “Governor Ron DeSantis” on the right and “DeSantis for President” on the left.
The fact that Mr. DeSantis used the taxpayer-funded helicopter was first reported by The Daily Beast, which also highlighted his boat tour of the Rio Grande during the visit. The boat used is owned by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and was deployed as part of Operation Lone Star. In response, Mr. DeSantis’s spokesperson defended the governor’s ride on the state-owned boat as being within the scope of his duties.
Myles Martin, a spokesperson for the Federal Election Commission, clarified that federal campaign finance rules necessitate candidates reimbursing government entities for the use of their aircraft and other means of transportation during campaigning.
This is not the first time Mr. DeSantis has faced allegations of blurring the lines between his official duties and his campaign. During the signing of Florida’s budget, lobbyists and lawmakers claimed that members of Mr. DeSantis’s staff contacted them seeking campaign contributions or endorsements, causing fear that their projects in the budget would be vetoed if they didn’t comply.
Nikki Fried, chair of the Florida Democratic Party, filed ethics and elections complaints against three top staff members in the governor’s office, accusing them of unethical and illegal actions.
Earlier this year, Mr. DeSantis also signed a bill that prevents the disclosure of his travel records, making it difficult to account for the use of taxpayer funds for security and other expenses during his campaign trips.
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