A visit by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the US-Mexico border last month raised concerns among government watchdogs that say Texas taxpayer dollars were improperly used to support the campaign presidential DeSantis.
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A visit by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to the US-Mexico border last month raised concerns among government watchdogs who say Texas taxpayer dollars were improperly used to support the campaign presidential DeSantis.
“There are photos and videos of him using a helicopter that is owned by the Texas Department of Public Safety,” said Adrian Shelley, director of Public Citizen of Texas.
In a statement, the department suggested DeSantis’ visit was related to his responsibilities as Florida governor, saying it was “coordinated by Florida and Texas law enforcement associates who currently work together on the border of Texas and Mexico”.
The Texas chapter of Public Citizen has asked DeSantis to reimburse Texas and has filed a public records request to learn more about the DPS briefing and who exactly in Texas signed off on the trip.
DeSantis chose Eagle Pass, Texas, for submit your border security plan, the first political proposal of his presidential campaign. After his speech, his campaign tweeted an image with the words “Mission: Stop the Invasion.”
Behind him was a helicopter owned by the Texas Department of Public Safety. The state plane is also featured in a video the campaign tweeted.
Some government accountability groups in Texas are now raising red flags.
“There are photos and videos of him using a helicopter that is owned by the Texas Department of Public Safety,” said Adrian Shelley, director of Texas Office of Public Citizen. “The use of state resources, taxpayer-funded resources, for a candidate for federal office is a violation of state law. So what we’re really concerned about here is a misapplication of state resources.”
The day before DeSantis’ border visit, the Florida governor participated in a briefing with DPS.
In a statement, DPS suggested DeSantis’ briefing was related to his responsibilities as Florida governor, saying it was “coordinated by Florida and Texas law enforcement partners who currently work together on the border between Texas and Mexico”.
The department went on to say the aerial tour was intended to give DeSantis “a clearer understanding of how Florida’s resources are being used along our southern border and to see the challenges firsthand.”
DPS would not disclose to Spectrum News how much the tour cost or comment on the aircraft featured on his campaign’s social media.
“The next day, footage from the event, which was clearly taken by the campaign, is being used for campaign social media,” said Saurav Ghosh, director of federal campaign finance reform. at the Campaign Legal Center. “I think it really doesn’t hold up that it was all about him being governor and therefore having the right to use public resources.”
While in Texas, DeSantis also traveled the border on a boat owned by the state of Florida. In a statement, his office characterized the boat trip with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a routine patrol and that participating in it “is not outside the scope of the governor’s job as director executive of the state”.
DeSantis’ campaign did not respond to requests for comment.
The Texas chapter of Public Citizen has asked DeSantis to reimburse Texas and has filed a public records request to learn more about the DPS briefing and who exactly in the state signed off on the trip.
“Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of state officials, but candidates for public office should be held to a high standard,” Shelley told Spectrum News. “And that’s what we’re asking for is accountability and the proper use of taxpayer dollars.”
Texas law limits state agencies and employees from using their official authority for political purposes.
