FLORIDA, USA — Truth, trust, transparency and answers.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis along with several state law enforcement officials held a press conference in West Palm Beach Tuesday, saying they want just that.
The governor started the press conference stating that he is "signing an executive order, assigning the case involving the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump to the Office of Statewide Prosecutor under the supervision of Attorney General Ashley Moody."
Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, is accused of hiding in shrubbery at Trump International Golf Club and pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope at the former president while he was playing golf on the course. The incident happened Sunday and local authorities said Routh was about 400 to 500 yards away from Trump in what is the second assassination attempt on him in just a little over two months.
DeSantis said in the press conference that Routh is believed to have committed state law violations across multiple judicial circuits in Florida - "Palm Beach Judicial Circuit, the judicial circuit including Martin County, as well as perhaps, the judicial circuit represented by Broward County." The governor added that the state can pursue more serious charges against Routh than the federal government can in this case, most notably attempted murder.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who is investigating the incident, cannot charge Routh to the "fullest extent of the law" with an attempted murder charge because it does not have jurisdiction and since Trump is not currently a federal official, according to DeSantis.
"In my judgment, it's not in the best interest of our state or our nation that the same federal agencies that are seeking to prosecute Donald Trump, [are] leading this investigation, especially when the most serious, straightforward offense constitutes a violation of state law, but not federal law," DeSantis said. "I have directed all state agencies to work expeditiously to be able to uncover the truth in addition to holding this suspect accountable."
DeSantis said when he spoke to Trump following the incident, he was "in good spirits" and "complimentary of the state of Florida taking the lead."
The list of officials who spoke at the press conference in addition to DeSantis includes Attorney General Ashley Moody, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and Martin County Sheriff William Snyder.