In the current phase of the presidential campaign, there has been considerable attention given to Ron DeSantis’ severely conservative politics and his ineptitude as a campaigner. However, what has been overshadowed is the astonishing extent of his allegedly legal corruption. DeSantis has demonstrated an impressive ability to leverage the power of government to generate funds and gain various benefits while keeping this behavior hidden from the public eye.
An email obtained by The Washington Post and published recently revealed a broader strategy employed by DeSantis and his aides. They created a list of 40 lobbyists with the goal of raising millions of dollars for the governor’s political-action committee and other funds. One particular scheme involved getting a lobbyist to use their client’s money to pay for a round of golf with DeSantis and his wife, Casey. Legal experts have stated that this arrangement complies with Florida law, and DeSantis was informed about and kept updated on the plan.
The motivation behind these actions is the desire to cultivate access and goodwill with the governor. Lobbyists acknowledge that making significant donations is a means to ensure their phone calls are returned, and they have the ability to make requests. DeSantis’ campaign spokesperson emphasized that donors do not dictate policy for the governor, citing Disney as an example.
While it is widely understood that large donations often grant access, this blatant admission by a lobbyist is noteworthy. It echoes the transparency shown by Donald Trump during the 2016 GOP presidential primary. Trump openly mentioned his past donations to Democrats, highlighting how his contributions to the Clinton Foundation led to Hillary Clinton’s presence at his wedding. This candidness resonated with certain voters as Trump vowed to eliminate unethical behavior in Washington. However, it should have served as a warning about his approach to governing.
DeSantis has positioned himself as a Trump-like president without the drama, but he appears to have learned from Trump how to exploit his position for personal gain. NBC News uncovered instances where officials from the Florida administration solicited campaign funds from lobbyists for DeSantis’ presidential campaign. While these actions are likely legal as long as state resources and time were not utilized, they are highly questionable. Lobbyists recognize the need to maintain access to DeSantis, as his willingness to punish perceived disloyalty has been demonstrated.
The true victims in this situation are the constituents who lack the financial means to afford rounds of golf with the governor and first lady. Moreover, DeSantis has taken steps to ensure that the public remains unaware of who is funding such activities and for what purposes. His political operation is designed to obscure spending, making it challenging to determine the financiers of his trips and campaigns. The use of charter jets without clear funding sources has caused scrutiny, with lobbyists being implicated in some cases. Additionally, a nonprofit organization has been established to conceal expenses related to DeSantis’ travel. These actions have raised concerns and annoyance among donors, particularly regarding the exorbitant costs associated with air travel.
When existing loopholes in the law do not suffice, DeSantis has taken steps to change legislation in his favor. A recent law passed by the state legislature shields travel-related records from the public, including DeSantis’ extensive use of state planes throughout his governorship. This retroactive law aims to keep records of visitors to the governor’s mansion confidential. Florida has traditionally been at the forefront of transparency laws, but DeSantis has actively worked to undermine those provisions.
The campaign finance system in the U.S. implicates nearly every major candidate, even if they are unwilling participants, in a distortion of democratic values through the implicit or explicit exchange of access for financial support. Although DeSantis has been particularly enthusiastic in exploiting these possibilities, it has not received the same level of scrutiny as his campaign tactics or conflicts with Disney. Nevertheless, these practices should not be overlooked. While they may not be illegal, they represent a level of corruption that surpasses the usual unseemly standards.
DeSantis’ aggressive approach to campaign finance aligns with his embrace of “total politics” as governor, employing the most aggressive methods available regardless of law, precedent, or prudence. It should be noted that the same methods may not be as easily transferable to the presidency, given the differences between state and federal laws and the resistance DeSantis would face in Congress. Nevertheless, his unethical conduct in this regard may serve as a blueprint for his future presidential approach. It is perhaps fitting that Florida would produce such a swamp creature.
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