/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ME5FVIZLYA3RJIWEOX5MKZQA5M.jpg "This combination of photos shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking on April 21, 2023, in Oxon Hill, Md., left, and former President Donald Trump speaking on March 4, 2023, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.")
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted a tweet late Thursday evening decrying the “weaponization of federal law enforcement” following reports that former President Donald Trump has been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
“We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation,” DeSantis tweeted, adding that politicized law enforcement “represents a mortal threat to a free society.”
“Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter?” he added, referring to former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden who has been the subject of allegations of financial wrongdoing.
Trump, who is again running for the White House, said Thursday that he has been indicted on federal charges. The Associated Press cited two unnamed sources that said the indictment included seven criminal counts.
It’s Trump’s second criminal indictment. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought campaign finance-related charges against Trump earlier this year.
DeSantis, who is considered the leading contender against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, quickly pivoted to his own campaign in the tweet denouncing Trump’s most recent charges, adding, “The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ (Department of Justice), excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.”
• • •
DeSantis’ rise: How Ron DeSantis became a presidential candidate and what could happen next
Test your knowledge: How well do you know Ron DeSantis? A quiz.
Catch up on coverage: Read these 11 essential Ron DeSantis stories from his hometown paper
Video: Three moments that made Ron DeSantis a national figure
The first lady: Casey DeSantis: The ‘X-factor’ in Florida governor’s inner circle
/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/tbt/e4f47ba9-e947-473c-9940-686288fbb74b.png "Kirby Wilson - Politics Reporter")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/ZESbF6A2CiLvRotuySSki46krOM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/AUB4IGZ6JT7IADBBCVXZHBWPME.jpg "5 takeaways on DeSantis’ performance in second GOP presidential debate")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/BDl8prxGFfiW07lIMGTmuj9hjZg=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/BYCMM7ITAGF2DTRUQMCKVA2WWQ.jpg "DeSantis, Newsom set Nov. 30 debate with Sean Hannity in Georgia")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/RQ78qmDV7Z5iuKrjN-T3PBnNa5s=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/CQLRA44LYTJGD5XYDGYU7LYZ2M.jpg "Disney, DeSantis legal fight escalates over emails, texts, records dispute")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/oK40l3aAm7pP_bwHCkYES038ZZA=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KO245INHPCO2PBOAS7EAMUWT4Y.jpg "Christie knocks DeSantis for Florida’s increased spending. But revenue rose, too.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/haUC3IIRU2LJgyq6p_ZfF2utpDs=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/KPEMYRLLAFFDTJBPK7YS7OODFY.jpg "Voting groups say discrimination was a factor in Florida redistricting as trial starts")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/cEJfGSFaH6ASPMogtRkLz6J64zM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JI544UZ27HAAUEALDJL27G5LI4.jpg "Half of 500,000 removed from Medicaid are children, Florida Dems warn")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/dCJaDSNfIrumhM8jlY8do0nBUj0=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/5DI77UZB5ALLLSMQHEXX735OYQ.jpg "On the government shutdown, I laugh but soon we’ll cry | Letters")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/RoPSCzSmlpXVr0VwuQuaN8eI9rM=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/JYN2HB5N7FBHBCVT3ZVMDONBZU.JPG "DeSantis’ office pledged to investigate bid-rigging case. It didn’t get far.")
/www.tampabay.com/resizer/IirrMhYQhvhx7e2oFh7FGi6BSII=/1200x675/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/TTABN22ZHFTPPEMTI5DQDTZDJI.jpg "I think I know why DeSantis punished that private school with ‘ties’ to Chinese Communists | Letters")