DeSantis Orders Florida Investigation Into Trump Assassination Attempt Amid Federal Distrust
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered a state-led investigation into the second attempted assassination of President Donald Trump, citing concerns over federal agencies’ ability to handle the case impartially. DeSantis signed an executive order assigning the state’s Attorney General’s Office and various Florida law enforcement agencies to take charge of the investigation, bypassing federal involvement.
DeSantis explained his reasoning during a press conference, emphasizing that federal agencies currently prosecuting Trump should not be leading this investigation. “It’s not in the best interest of our state or our nation to have the same federal agencies [prosecuting Trump] overseeing this,” he said, adding that the suspect’s actions violated Florida law, which provides the state with jurisdiction over the case.
The suspect, Ryan Routh, was apprehended after being found near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course, armed with a rifle. Routh, a longtime Democrat donor with a history of anti-Trump rhetoric, has already faced federal gun charges. However, DeSantis expressed frustration that federal prosecutors only pursued minor charges, calling for more serious state-level charges to hold Routh fully accountable.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody vowed to uncover the full story behind the assassination attempt, stating, “Florida is launching its own investigation to ensure the truth is revealed.” DeSantis argued that Florida is better positioned than federal agencies to provide answers, pointing to past federal investigations that have left many questions unanswered, such as the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
This move reflects growing distrust of federal investigators, with DeSantis stressing the need for transparency and thoroughness to restore public confidence in law enforcement’s handling of such high-profile cases.
