FORT LAUDERDALE—Veteran Republican political operative Roger Stone sat down with The Floridian this week and accused Governor Ron DeSantis of bribery while discussing the 2024 Republican presidential primary election.
Stone, who is a longtime advisor and friend to former President Donald Trump, believes that President Trump will continue to run for president regardless of the “indictments being thrown at him” or if he finds himself in prison.
Stone went on to say that Governor DeSantis has committed bribery for recently changing the “Resign to Run” state statute that required anyone looking to run for higher office to first resign from the office they currently hold.
“I think they have bigger problems such as Bribery. Bribery is a problem. Florida State law says you cannot hold state office and run for federal office without resigning the state office,” said Stone, suggesting that Gov. DeSantis and House Speaker Paul Renner need to be hauled in front of a grand jury.
“That law was changed and days later Ron transferred $1 million to a new PAC that is controlled by the speaker of the house.  That's a bribe.  The US attorney in Tallahassee needs to get Ron and the Speaker in front of a grand jury and whatever other staffers were involved in that, and ask some hard questions,” added Stone.
Stone also made mention of Iowa’s most prominent evangelical, Bob Vander Plaat, who appears to favor DeSantis over the rest of the field of 2024 GOP presidential candidates and may endorse him in the coming months.
The veteran strategist accuses DeSantis of paying a bribe to Vander Plaats after the Governor’s Never Back Down PAC cut an “Independent Expenditure” to Vander Plaats’s “The Family Leader” foundation.
Stone’s claim that the Never Back Down PAC gave Vander Plaat the $50,000 was first discovered by conservative journalist and former congressional candidates Laura Loomer.
According to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), the expenditure made to Vander Plaat's "The Family Leader Foundation" was made in support of "Ron DeSantis."
Vander Plaats recently traveled to Tallahassee and had lunch with the DeSantis’s in the Governor’s Mansion.
“I think Ron overpaid. This guy can't deliver anything. He gave a $50,000 contribution to his nonprofit. Like we're stupid.  It's a bribe. it's called bribery— play-to-pay politics,” added Stone before accusing DeSantis of ripping off Floridians who donated to his reelection campaign.
DeSantis’s campaign is in the midst of a complete “reboot,” as donors and supporters continue to question its viability.
The first Republican presidential debate will be held on August 17th in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Former President Trump is not expected to attend.
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