According to new data obtained by The Washington Post.
Notably, DeSantis flew two planes full of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts after reiterating that Florida was not a refuge. The move was heavily criticized — including by some in DeSantis’ own state — as a brutal political stunt. The new records of the After, however, shows that DeSantis may have also used a new Florida program to his advantage.
Known as a ‘relocation programme’, launched in July, this initiative was described by the After as intended to “relocate outside the state of Florida that is not legally present in the United States.”
However, the pair of migrant flights were from San Antonio, Texas, and the After it reportedly obtained records showing that the administration of DeSantis paid charter airline Vertol $615,000 to fly from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. A $950,000 payment for an additional flight was also reportedly listed, although this flight was later cancelled.
This new data is at the heart of a criminal investigation into DeSantis’ actions, as well as a civil lawsuit being filed by Florida State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D). Pizzo claims the relocation program violated state law because the flights were from Texas, not Florida.
However, DeSantis has defended the flights, claiming in a press conference that “most of [the migrants] are planning to come to Florida.”
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