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Gov. Ron DeSantis stood before deputies Thursday in a room where his staff handed out signs reading “my vote matters” and announced that 20 people had been arrested and charged with voter fraud. “I think, unfortunately, there will be more prosecutions for unlawful criminals,” DeSantis said. He said they are all convicted murderers or sex offenders who registered to vote or even voted. if they’re not eligible.” That’s something we’re taking action on very quickly. We received the money on July 1. We’ve already hired people, we’re already going to work, and I think that shows this is something we take very seriously as a state,” DeSantis said. Those arrested could face five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for the Florida Bureau of Election Crimes and Security. Florida law enforcement to investigate fraud The announcement of the arrests comes after weeks of reporting by WESH 2 illegal voting by convicted sex offenders, most of whom tell us they thought their right to vote had been reinstated under Amendment 4. This 2018 measure excludes murderers and sex offenders.Most arrests have been in South Florida, but four people have been arrested and charged in the c County of Orange. The news comes days before a competitive Democratic primary between Congressman Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Those 20 people who shouldn’t have voted, that’s exactly what prosecutors were supposed to deal with,” Fried said. “If you’re not supposed to vote, it’s illegal and I will never encourage anyone to vote illegally, but what we do know is that this election police, when it was created, was intended to remove votes.” In a statement sent to WESH 2, Charlie Crist said: “Ron DeSantis likes to say that we had one of the best elections in 2020. So why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder the people’s vote? It’s about playing politics, intimidating Democratic voters, and his desire to run for president, not securing an election.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis stood before deputies Thursday in a room where his staff handed out signs reading “my vote matters” and announced that 20 people had been arrested and charged with voter fraud.
“I think, unfortunately, there will be more prosecutions for unlawful criminals,” DeSantis said.
He said they are all convicted murderers or sex offenders who registered to vote or voted even though they are not eligible.
DeSantis called this evidence that his new Bureau of Election Crimes and Security was needed.
“It’s something where we move into action very quickly. We received the money on July 1. We’ve already hired people, who are already going to work, and I think that shows that this is something we take very seriously as a state,” DeSantis said.
Those arrested face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
“We had an issue with ineligible voters voting in elections in this state, and nothing has been done so far,” said Pete Antonacci, director of the Florida Office of Election Crimes and Security.
It should be noted that it is generally the responsibility of the Secretary of State’s office to work with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate fraud.
The announcement of the arrests comes after weeks of reporting by WESH 2 investigating alleged illegal voting by convicted sex offenders, most of whom tell us they believed their voting rights had been restored under Amendment 4. This 2018 measure excludes murderers and sex offenders.
Most of the arrests took place in South Florida, but four people were arrested and charged in Orange County.
The news comes a few days before a competition Democratic primary between Congressman Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.
“Those 20 people who shouldn’t have voted are exactly what state prosecutors were supposed to be dealing with,” Fried said. “If you’re not supposed to vote, it’s illegal and I will never encourage anyone to vote illegally, but what we do know is that this election police, when it was created, is their goal. [is] to remove the votes.”
In a statement sent to WESH 2, Charlie Crist said: “Ron DeSantis likes to say that we had one of the best elections in 2020. So why is he spending millions to change the system, including making it harder people’s vote? This is about playing politics, intimidating Democratic voters and his desire to run for president, not to get an election.”