Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accepted at least six undisclosed trips on private jets, along with lodging and dining, according to an article published Thursday in the Washington Post.
The trips occurred in late 2018, between DeSantis’ election and inauguration, while he was governor-elect. According to flight manifests, tracking data, and other documents obtained by the Post, DeSantis traveled on Dec. 20 and 21, 2018 to the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club on a jet owned by mega-developer Mori Hosseini. DeSantis did not report the flights or accommodations as gifts or campaign contributions.
The article claims that Hosseini left Daytona on a private jet registered to one of his companies and flew to Sarasota to pick up then-Florida Senate President Bill Galvano. The Post noted that gift or campaign finance disclosures for Galvano pertaining to the trip likewise could not be found.
Hosseini, who also supplied a golf simulator to the governor’s mansion, later benefited from $92 million in federal pandemic funding that the DeSantis administration steered to a highway interchange project he had lobbied in favor of.
DeSantis, Hosseini, Ridley, and Galvano played the next day, according to the itinerary. Then Hosseini’s plane flew the governor-elect back to St. Augustine, which was close to his residence at the time.
While at Augusta National, the governor stayed in the club’s Eisenhower room, a cabin built for President Dwight D. Eisenhower that is marked with the presidential seal above the door. Meals and lodging also did not appear in disclosures for gifts, contributions, or expenditures, according to the Post's reporting.
DeSantis also took four other flights on a plane registered to another donor, John Cwik, CEO of a window manufacturer in Ocala, during that time period. Disclosure reporting was absent for those trips as well, according to the Post.
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san.gander
When did our politicians become so venal and corrupt? Is there no integrity or honesty in government anymore? Even the judicary of this country at the Supreme level seems to have their hand out for gifts in return for favors. Sadly, cases of corruption and dishonesty are turning up in the military as well.
It is time to require the best of Americal principles and ethics to be taught in all schools in America starting in elementary school. All children should be taught that our nations civil "religion" is honesty and fair play in politics, and universal tolerance and respect for all our neighbors in our diverse country.
Friday, September 15, 2023 Report this
barbaraelliott
That's exactly what military brats are taught. What's wrong with the 'adults' running the show?
Friday, September 15, 2023 Report this
barbaraelliott
There needs to be a complaint filed about DeSantis non gift disclosures. Only citizens can or will be able to file that since no one in government will. So I challenge you to take the governor to task for not filing gift disclosures properly. I have two more complaints to write as it is, about our local government. Write and file it. Lunch or dinner is on me.
Barbara Elliott
Stone Soup Manatee Inc
941-447-9929
Friday, September 15, 2023 Report this
barbaraelliott
You may discover something else about why DeSantis, Galvano and the other two 'players' were actually hanging out.
Friday, September 15, 2023 Report this