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March 31, 2023Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who is widely expected to challenge Donald J. Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, called the indictment of Mr. Trump “un-American” and said that his state “will not assist in an extradition request” should one come from New York authorities.
Earlier this month, Mr. DeSantis took two days after Mr. Trump inaccurately predicted an imminent arrest to comment, and at the time he demurred on the potential role that he or his state — home to Mr. Trump, who lives at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Palm Beach — would play in potentially extraditing Mr. Trump to New York.
A spokesperson for Alvin L. Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, said on Thursday evening that the office had contacted Mr. Trump’s attorney “to coordinate his surrender” and that “guidance will be provided when the arraignment date is selected.”
Mr. Trump is expected to voluntarily surrender on Tuesday, according to one of his lawyers, Susan R. Necheles. But if Mr. Trump does not, Mr. DeSantis’s statement made clear his state would not cooperate with the New York authorities. Mr. DeSantis called the charge — the specifics of which remain under seal — “the weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda.”
“Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda,” Mr. DeSantis said, referring to indirect financial backing from George Soros, the liberal financier, that Mr. Bragg received in his campaign.
Under Florida law, the governor has the power to call for an investigation of the extradition request to determine “whether the person ought to be surrendered.” The governor must also sign off on a warrant before the person who has been charged in another state can be arrested and detained.
In his earlier comments ten days ago, Mr. DeSantis similarly referred to the “weaponizing” of the case, though then he added a swipe at Mr. Trump’s personal behavior.
“I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair,” Mr. DeSantis said then. “I just, I can’t speak to that.”
His statement on Thursday contained no such reference.
The logistics of Mr. Trump’s surrender are complex, with arrangements expected to be made between his legal team, the Secret Service and New York law enforcement.
Ken Bensinger and William Rashbaum contributed reporting
