A new report from McClatchy reveals that Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis took millions in campaign donations from donors he rewarded with political appointments.
Notably, the report says that “since assuming office in 2019, DeSantis has accepted roughly $3.3 million in campaign donations from about 250 people he selected for leadership roles — a 75% increase in the number of donors appointed compared to former Gov. Rick Scott’s first term in office, and over 10 times the amount of money.”
The report includes a quote from American Bridge spokesperson, Drew Godinich:
“There’s nothing Ron DeSantis won’t do to line his coffers — including selling state appointments for contributions to his campaign.”
McClatchy: DeSantis appointed more donors to political posts in first term than Rick Scott
By Sheridan Wall | October 19, 2022
Key Points:
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“Gov. Ron DeSantis’ war chest is almost bottomless. And it’s padded with donations from officials he appointed to positions throughout the state. While it’s common for governors to stack commissions, boards and task forces with their supporters, DeSantis has done so at a significantly higher rate than his predecessor, according to an analysis of campaign contributions and political appointments.”
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“Since assuming office in 2019, DeSantis has accepted roughly $3.3 million in campaign donations from about 250 people he selected for leadership roles — a 75% increase in the number of donors appointed compared to former Gov. Rick Scott’s first term in office, and over 10 times the amount of money.”
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“Donations included in the analysis ranged from $1 to $400,000. So far, DeSantis has raked in about $189 million to his campaign and PAC ahead of next month’s election. ‘There’s nothing Ron DeSantis won’t do to line his coffers — including selling state appointments for contributions to his campaign,’ Drew Godinich, a spokesperson for American Bridge, wrote in an email.”
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“[Stephen] Joost was one of 17 appointees identified by American Bridge who donated to DeSantis within one month of their appointment, four of which contributed $10,000 or more. This includes Troy Link, the chief executive officer and president of Jack Link’s Protein Snacks, who donated $187,000 to DeSantis-affiliated groups, including $57,000 in October 2021 — less than a month before his appointment to the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors.”
Read the full report here.
Published: Oct 19, 2022