DeSantis Receives a Wild Gift from a Wealthy Donor

Photo byGage Skidmore

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received an excessive gift from a generous donor for the governor's mansion.

Mori Hosseini, a longtime GOP donor and the chair of the University of Florida board of trustees, gave DeSantis a golf simulator system to install in the governor's mansion gym, which is only open to the governor and his family.

According to reports, the simulator models cost between $27,000 and almost $70,000.

DeSantis may want to improve his golf skills before taking on Trump directly.

The first family, staff, and visitors can use the simulator, according to a DeSantis spokeswoman, who also notes that the donation is adequately documented and authorized by legal counsel.

DeSantis might have moral doubts about the donation, especially if he decides to run for president in 2024. He is a front-runner for the GOP candidacy behind former President Donald Trump.

Any ethics probe would focus on whether the golf system qualifies as a personal gift, which is prohibited, or a gift intended for the governor's home as a whole, which is permitted.

According to reports, Hosseini gave DeSantis and his wife at least a dozen flights on his private plane. Hosseini, a close friend and ally of DeSantis, presided over the inaugural committee's finance committee and the transition team for the governorship.

Florida law permits private flights to be given to politicians, but they must be adequately documented.

Hosseini has given more than $400,000 to DeSantis, associated PACs, and the Florida Republican Party, according to public campaign finance records.

In 2021, DeSantis reappointed Hosseini to his position as chair of the University of Florida Board of Trustees.

All the gifts and donations seem to be legal.

What do you think about leaders receiving expensive gifts from people they appoint?

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