Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been found to have taken at least six undisclosed trips on private jets and accepted accommodation and meals in late 2018, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post. These trips occurred between DeSantis’s election and inauguration as governor. The flights and accommodations were not reported as gifts or campaign contributions, and it remains unclear whether DeSantis personally reimbursed for the flights at the cost of coach airfare.
One of the trips was to the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club on a plane owned by Mori Hosseini, a major home builder who later benefited from $92 million in federal pandemic funding that the DeSantis administration directed to a highway interchange project he sought. DeSantis took four other flights on a plane registered at the time to John Cwik, another DeSantis donor.
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DeSantis’s campaign spokesman, Andrew Romeo, stated that all travel and events were compliant and received proper payment. However, the undisclosed trips reflect DeSantis’s preference for luxury travel and close relationships with wealthy donors, contrasting with his campaign’s portrayal of his humble blue-collar roots and aversion to moneyed interests.
DeSantis has not filed any gift disclosures throughout his time in office, according to the Florida Ethics Commission. The commission has received 12 complaints about DeSantis, all of which were dismissed. None were relevant to the undisclosed trips.
Read more at The Washington Post.
