DeSantis says federal authorities investigating thwarted Trump attack ‘may not be the best thing’

Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) detailed his decision to have Florida open its own investigation into the second attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump , stressing a need to ensure the truth is told in a “credible” manner.

The former president was golfing at his West Palm Beach golf course Sunday while a suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, hid nearby with an “AK-47-style rifle” before fleeing the scene, according to law enforcement. When DeSantis was asked if he had spoken with Trump since the assassination attempt, the Florida governor said he had not, though he provided details on the Sunshine State’s own investigation, as he believes there were “multiple violations of state law” with this attempt on Trump’s life.

“We also believe that there is a need to make sure that the truth about all this comes out in a way that’s credible,” DeSantis said at a Monday press conference. “I look at the federal government, with all due respect to them, those same agencies that are prosecuting Trump in that jurisdiction are now going to be investigating this? I just think that that may not be the best thing for this country.”

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DeSantis’s remark was in reference to the legal battles Trump has had to deal with while campaigning for president. One of these cases, related to the former president storing classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort, was dismissed in July after the judge found that Attorney General Merrick Garland did not correctly appoint special counsel Jack Smith.

About Florida’s independent research into the assassination attempt, DeSantis said a statement related to this investigation will be made “in the ensuing days.” DeSantis announced the state’s investigation several hours after the attempt on Trump’s life was made public.

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The FBI and Secret Service are also investigating the assassination attempt . Additionally, the congressional task force investigating Trump’s first assassination attempt in July is now expanding its investigation into Sunday’s attempt.

Democrats’ rhetoric inspired another attempt on President Trump’s life.

In case they forgot, we made a list👇 pic.twitter.com/PbwQ3q6sOf

Trump has blamed the Biden-Harris administration and its “rhetoric” for indirectly leading to his most recent assassination attempt. His campaign issued a statement arguing Democrats have used “increasingly incendiary rhetoric” against the former president, listing multiple examples of lawmakers calling him “a threat.”