Disney has filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). The lawsuit addresses control of their resort.
In filing the lawsuit, Disney argues that DeSantis has led "a targeted campaign of government retaliation," adding that it stems from criticism of a contentious state education law.
The rivalry between DeSantis and Disney has been a controversial one, and it resulted in DeSantis stripping Disney of self-governing power.
Disney filed the lawsuit in a federal court shortly after the board appointed by DeSantis to oversee Disney's special axing district attempted to invalidate an agreement that was reached between Disney and the previous board in February.
Democrats have been highly critical of the DeSantis administration's involvement in the feud, and after news of the lawsuit came to light, many began to issue their condemnation of the Florida Governor.
In a statement, Rep. Eskamani criticized Governor DeSantis' role in the feud, urging him to "let it go."
Today Disney filed a lawsuit against Governor Ron DeSantis over control of its Florida Resort. The company claimed “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” which it said stemmed from its criticism of a contentious state education law.
Below is our statement in response: pic.twitter.com/XsoAW6DMoj
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) April 26, 2023
"It really does take a terrible Governor for someone like me to express support for a corporation but it's been such a circus to watch DeSantis continue to target and demonize the Walt Disney World Company because they expressed an opinion he did not like and stopped giving him campaign contributions."
"This has clearly been a pattern of punitive and petty behavior by Governor DeSantis that has exposed his inability to lead alongside his extreme policy positions," Eskamani added, saying that she wishes "Disney luck in their litigation" and calling on Governor DeSantis to "let it go."
Disney has pushed back against DeSantis, arguing that the Governor has weaponized power, resulting in their business being hurt. In the civil complaint in the U.S. District Court in norther Florida, Disney alleges that DeSantis' "government action was patently retaliatory, patently anti-business, and patently unconstitutional."
DeSantis has not responded to the lawsuit.
