Highlights:
2014: DeSantis Voted For A Bill That Would Provide Loan Guarantees And Economic Assistance To Ukraine And Sanctioned Russian And Ukrainian Officials Related To The Annexation Of Crimea. In March 2014, DeSantis voted for a bill that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “authorize[d] loan guarantees and economic assistance to Ukraine, and impose[d] sanctions on Russian and ex-Ukrainian officials. It would make unobligated State Department funds available for loan guarantees and authorize $150 million for direct aid, including $50 million for technical and civil society assistance initiatives in Ukraine, such as free and fair elections. It would authorize the president to impose visa restrictions or block the assets of any person, including Russian government officials or their close associates, determined to be responsible for the crisis in Ukraine. It also would require the Defense Department to issue an annual report on Russian military capabilities beginning on June 1, 2015, and then on June 1 each year through 2020.” The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules the rules and concur with the Senate amendments. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 378 to 34. President Obama later signed the legislation into law. [House Vote 149, 4/1/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/27/14; Congressional Actions, S. Amdt. 2867; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4152]
2014: DeSantis Voted For Legislation Authorizing $70 Million In Aid To Ukraine. In March 2014, DeSantis voted for legislation that codified sanctions against Russia and authorized $70 million to aid Ukraine. According to Congressional Quarterly, “authorize[d] $70 million in aid to Ukraine, including $50 million for democracy and civil society efforts. It also would [have] codif[ied] and expand[ed] sanctions imposed by the Obama administration against certain Russian officials. It would [have] call[ed] on the president to sanction Russian officials and others who have undermined the Ukrainian government, committed human rights abuses and engaged in corrupt acts in Russia. It also would [have] call[ed] on the president to examine whether Russia has violated a 1988 arms treaty.” The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of 399 to 19. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation, but a separate bill became law. This bill did not authorize $8 million to better Ukrainian law enforcement capabilities and did not ask the president to investigate if Russia had violated the 1988 arms treaty. [House Vote 148, 3/27/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/27/14; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4278]
March 2014: Russia Annexed Crimea, A Region Of Ukraine, Against U.S. And European Pressure. According to the Washington Post, “Invoking the suffering of the Russian people and a narrative of constant betrayals by the West, President Vladimir Putin declared Tuesday that Russia was within its rights to reclaim Crimea, then signed a treaty that did just that. Putin, defiant in the face of U.S. and European pressure, dispensed with legal deliberation and announced a swift annexation of Crimea, as if to put Europe’s most serious crisis in decades beyond the point where the results could be turned back. In a speech to a joint session of the Russian parliament, he compared the move to the independence declaration of Kosovo in 2008 and the reunification of Germany in 1990 — but, in reality, this is the first time that one European nation has seized territory from another since the end of World War II.” [Washington Post, 3/18/14]
2014: DeSantis Effectively Voted Against The New START Treaty By Requiring That The Defense And State Secretaries Certify That Russia Is Respecting Ukrainian Sovereignty Before Funds Are Spent Implementing The Treaty. On May 2014, DeSantis voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “bar[red] the use of funds authorized by the bill to implement the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty until the Defense secretary and the secretary of State certify that Russia is respecting Ukrainian sovereignty and is no longer violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces or the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe treaties.” The underlying legislation was an FY 2015 defense authorization. The vote was on the amendment. The House adopted the amendment by a vote of 233 to 191. The House later passed the underlying bill, but a separate defense authorization later became law that was lacking the policy. [House Vote 236, 5/22/14; Congressional Quarterly, 5/22/14; Congress.com, H.R. 3979; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 679; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4435]
2015: DeSantis Voted To Bar Funds From Being Used To Implement The New START Treaty Until Russian Troops No Longer Occupied Ukraine. In May 2015, DeSantis voted for an amendment that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “bar[red] funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Defense Department in fiscal 2016 from being used to implement the New START treaty until the president certifies that Russia's armed forces are ‘no longer illegally occupying Ukrainian territory,’ as well as certain other certifications.” The underlying legislation was H.R. 1735, the FY 2016 NDAA. The vote was on the amendment. The House approved the amendment by a vote of 235 to 182. The Congress later passed the legislation, which the president vetoed and was not overridden. [House Vote 234, 5/15/15; Congressional Quarterly, 5/15/15; Congressional Actions, H. Amdt. 226; Congressional Actions, H.R. 1735]
2014: DeSantis Voted To Condemn Russia’s Policy Towards Ukraine. In December 2014, DeSantis voted for a resolution calling on Russia to withdraw its forces in Ukraine. According to Congressional Quarterly, the resolution “would express support for efforts by President Poroshenko and the people of Ukraine to establish a lasting peace in their country through the full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, establishing full control of Ukraine's international borders, the disarming of separatist and paramilitary forces in eastern Ukraine and the adoption of policies to reduce Russia's ability to use energy exports and trade barriers as economic weapons. It would call on Russia to end their violations of the cease-fire announced in Minsk on Sept. 5, 2014 and to cooperate with U.S. allies to impose visa bans, targeted asset freezes and sanctions to force Russia to end its occupation of Ukraine.” The vote was on agreeing to the resolution. The House accepted the resolution 411 to 10. [House Vote 548, 12/4/14; Congressional Quarterly, 12/4/14; Congressional Actions, H. Res. 758]
2014: DeSantis Voted For Legislation Expanding And Codifying Sanctions Against Russia. In March 2014, DeSantis voted for legislation that codified sanctions against Russia and authorized $70 million to aid Ukraine. According to Congressional Quarterly, “authorize[d] $70 million in aid to Ukraine, including $50 million for democracy and civil society efforts. It also would [have] codif[ied] and expand[ed] sanctions imposed by the Obama administration against certain Russian officials. It would [have] call[ed] on the president to sanction Russian officials and others who have undermined the Ukrainian government, committed human rights abuses and engaged in corrupt acts in Russia. It also would [have] call[ed] on the president to examine whether Russia has violated a 1988 arms treaty.” The vote was on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill. The House agreed to the motion, thereby passing the bill, by a vote of 399 to 19. The Senate took no substantive action on the legislation, but a separate bill became law. This bill did not authorize $8 million to better Ukrainian law enforcement capabilities and did not ask the president to investigate if Russia had violated the 1988 arms treaty. [House Vote 148, 3/27/14; Congressional Quarterly, 3/27/14; Congressional Quarterly, 4/1/14; Congressional Actions, H.R. 4278]
2017: DeSantis Voted For Codifying Sanctions And Creating New Sanctions On Russia As Part Of A Larger Sanctions Bill On Iran, North Korea And Russia. In July 2017, DeSantis voted for legislation that would have, according to Congressional Quarterly, “codif[ied] certain existing sanctions on Russia, including various sanctions tied to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, and malicious cyber activities relating to the 2016 U.S. elections. The bill would [have] establish multiple new sanctions on Russia, including sanctions on entities conducting malicious cyber activity on behalf of the Russian government and entities which conduct business with the Russian intelligence and defense sectors.” In addition, also according to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation would have “impose[d] various new or expanded sanctions against Iran, including sanctions on persons that engage in or pose a risk of materially contributing to Iran’s ballistic missile program and sanctions on officials, agents or affiliates of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The bill would [have] also impose[d] multiple new or expanded sanctions on North Korea, including sanctions against entities that purchase certain metals or minerals from North Korea, and would [have] require[d] the secretary of State to make a determination as to whether North Korea constitutes a ‘state sponsor of terrorism.’” The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 419 to 3. The Senate then passed the legislation, sending the bill to President Trump, who signed it into law. [House Vote 413, 7/25/17; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/17; Congressional Actions, H.R. 3364]
DeSantis Said That Obama’s Weak Foreign Policy Is Evident In Putin’s Aggression In The Ukraine. According to International Wire, Congressman Ron DeSantis said, “No, that’s right. Ukraine is a great example because, what Vladimir Putin sees is he sees weakness. He sees a president that’s not serious and so he knows he can get away with things there. And I think if we had a policy which was firm, which armed Ukraine with defensive and offensive weapons so that they could defend themselves, I think Putin would make different calculations. And so I think Obama’s policy of weakness is actually making a larger conflict more likely, than I think if you had a Reaganesque policy of strength, I think you would see people like Putin not want to mess with us.” [International Wire, 5/20/15]
DeSantis: I Have Been Anti-Russia My Whole Career. While appearing on YOUR WORLD WITH NEIL CAVUTO, DeSantis said, “DESANTIS: Well, but here’s the issue, Neil. And I have been anti-Russia my whole career, unlike a lot of my friends on the other side of the aisle who only became that once Donald Trump was elected. We’re -- we’re told on the one hand that $100,000 in Facebook ads is somehow this massive intrusion. If you hold that position, fine. But then, clearly, you have got to be concerned about the Uranium One deal and about the bribery and racketeering that went on, because it seems to me that is a more substantive intervention into our society by Russia than $100,000 in Facebook ads” [Fox News, Your World With Neil Cavuto, 10/25/17]
DeSantis Did Not Call for Unity With Ukraine Or Condemn Russia For The Attack. According to Florida Politics, “DeSantis did not actually call for unity with Ukraine, nor did he condemn Russia for attacking a sovereign democracy, though he did ridicule Putin for making missteps. He said the Russian forces went in ‘half-heartedly’ with a lack of overwhelming force and a lack of daring.” [Florida Politics, 2/28/22]
DeSantis Avoided Explicitly Supporting Ukraine While Two Former Governors Including Rick Scott Took Pro-Ukraine Positions. According to Florida Politics, “Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his latest plea for U.S. help Wednesday morning, imploring Congress for more material support to resist Russia’s invasion. In the wake of the remarks, two former Florida governors offered emphatic responses, while Gov. Ron DeSantis avoided the topic entirely during his morning news conference in Hialeah. Sen. Rick Scott, DeSantis’ immediate predecessor as Governor, castigated President Joe Biden‘s administration for not facilitating a transfer of Polish planes to the Ukrainians. […] DeSantis has offered comments broadly supportive of the ‘moxie’ of Ukrainian resistance fighters, though he has stopped short of the kind of untrammeled support for the Ukrainian war effort that former Governors and current challengers would like. The issue is more politically complicated on the right wing than the left, with the America First movement epitomized by Rep. Matt Gaetz and others positing that a war in Europe is not America’s battle to fight.” [Florida Politics, 3/16/22]
DeSantis Blamed Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine And China’s Future Actions On Biden Being A Pushover. According to Florida Politics, “‘But you have somebody who is clearly not capable of exercising the type of leadership on the world stage that is going to inspire confidence from our allies, and is going to inspire fear from our adversaries,’ DeSantis added. ‘Look at (Vladimir) Putin, what he did going into Ukraine. I think it’s backfired on him. I think (Russia’s) going to have a lot of problems because of this. But he would not have done that if he didn’t think Biden was a pushover,’ DeSantis said. ‘You look at President Xi (Jinping) in China and what they’re going to end up doing,’ DeSantis continued. ‘They’re going to do something aggressive and provocative, and it all goes back to they do not have any fear of the American President.’ ‘Yes, it’s hurt our country’s image abroad. There’s no question about that. It seems like we’re not as vital, that we don’t have the vitality that people look at, and I think that leadership starts at the top,’ DeSantis added.” [Florida Politics, 5/2/22]
DeSantis Blamed Biden’s Appearance Of Weakness For Putin’s Attack On Ukraine. According to Florida Politics, “After five days of silence on the matter, Gov. Ron DeSantis finally on Monday expressed a position on Russia’s attack on Ukraine, ridiculing Russia’s effort, extolling Ukrainians, blaming President Joe Biden and praising Donald Trump. DeSantis said Russian President Vladimir Putin miscalculated what it would take to conquer Ukraine because Putin read too much into what the Governor said was Biden’s appearance of weakness.” [Florida Politics, 2/28/22]
DeSantis Said Biden Had Not Done Enough To Dissuade Putin From Invading Ukraine, Blamed Biden’s Rollback Of American Energy Independence. According to Florida Politics, “DeSantis also expressed his belief that Europe and the United States under Biden still have not done enough to dissuade Putin because they have not “hit him where it counts.” That would involve sanctions on Russia’s oil and gas, which DeSantis said haven’t been pursued because Biden has rolled back Trump’s efforts to make America more energy independent.” [Florida Politics, 2/28/22]
DeSantis Attacked The Biden Administration’s “Open-Ended Blank Check” Strategy To Support Ukraine. According to Fox News, “DeSantis joined ‘Fox & Friends’ Monday to discuss Biden's first visit to the war zone since the conflict started a year ago, and why the newly allocated half-billion dollars in Ukrainian aid is unacceptable without clearly defined goals. ‘They have effectively a blank-check policy with no clear, strategic objective identified, and these things can escalate, and I don't think it's in our interests to be getting into a proxy war with China, getting involved over things like the borderlands or over Crimea,’ DeSantis said. ‘So I think it would behoove them to identify what is the strategic objective that they're trying to achieve, but just saying it's an open-ended blank check, that is not acceptable,’ he continued.” [Fox News, 2/20/23]
DeSantis Questioned Whether The U.S. Should Be Involved In The War Between Ukraine And Russia. According to CNN, “Once an advocate of a hardline, hawkish approach to Russia by supporting Ukraine, the Florida governor shifted course this week in anticipation of a potential presidential run in a changed, more isolationist Republican party, questioning whether it was in the United States’ interest to be involved in what he called, ‘things like the borderlands or over Crimea.’ He added that Russia was not ‘the same threat to our country, even though they’re hostile’ and downplayed the threats that Russia could invade NATO countries.” [CNN, 2/26/23]
In Interview With Times Of London, DeSantis Criticized Biden’s Weakness On The World Stage But Was Unable To Answer How He Would Handle The Situation Differently. According to Yahoo, “DeSantis was profiled Thursday by The Times of London, which was granted a relatively rare level of access to the Republican rising star. The Times is owned by Rupert Murdoch, whose Fox News network frequently interviews DeSantis. David Charter, a US Editor at The Times, wrote that DeSantis showed a ‘flash of temper’ when asked about Ukraine. ‘I ask about Ukraine and he says that 'there's a critique of Biden, and I think I'm sympathetic to it in the sense that, is our policy just do whatever Zelensky wants? Or do we have a concrete idea of what we're trying to achieve exactly?’ Charter wrote. ‘When I ask him how it should be handled differently, he refers to Biden being ‘weak on the world stage’ and failing at deterrence, but as that is not answering how it should be handled now, I ask again. DeSantis does not have anything to add: 'Perhaps you should cover some other ground? I think I've said enough.’” [Yahoo News, 3/3/23]
DeSantis Called Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine A “Territorial Dispute.” According to the Miami Herald, “As a junior U.S. congressman from Florida in 2014, Ron DeSantis accused Moscow of ‘violating Ukrainian sovereignty,’ accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of creating a ‘pretext’ to invade its neighbor, and sought assurances from the Obama administration that the United States would stand by its NATO allies. In contrast, DeSantis now calls Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a ‘territorial dispute’ that is not core to U.S. interests, a position he made clear earlier this week in a statement to a Fox News host.” [Miami Herald, 3/16/23]
DeSantis Said Protecting Ukraine Was Not A Vital Interest For The U.S. In Speaking Out Against Aid To The Ally. According to the New York Times, “Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida has sharply broken with Republicans who are determined to defend Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, saying in a statement made public on Monday night that protecting the European nation’s borders is not a vital U.S. interest and that policymakers should instead focus attention at home. The statement from Mr. DeSantis, who is seen as an all but declared presidential candidate for the 2024 campaign, puts him in line with the front-runner for the G.O.P. nomination, former President Donald J. Trump.” [New York Times, 3/13/23]
New York Times: DeSantis Argued The Problem With Ukraine Aid Was That Biden Was “Doing Too Much, Without A Clearly Defined Objective.” According to the New York Times, “On Mr. Carlson’s show, Mr. DeSantis separated himself from Republicans who say the problem with Mr. Biden’s Ukraine policy is that he’s not doing enough. Mr. DeSantis made clear he thinks Mr. Biden is doing too much, without a clearly defined objective, and taking actions that risk provoking war between the U.S. and Russia.” [New York Times, 3/13/23]
March 22, 2023: DeSantis Called Putin A “War Criminal.” According to Politico, “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sought to clean up his previous comments calling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a ‘territorial dispute,’ telling British journalist Piers Morgan instead that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a ‘war criminal.’ But during an interview with Morgan set to air this week, DeSantis called Putin a ‘a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons,’ repeating a similar line he had used in early March to describe the Russian leader. Both lines echoed a 2014 quip from then-Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in which he said, ‘Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country.’” [Politico, 3/22/23]
March 22, 2023: DeSantis Called Putin A “Gas Station With A Bunch Of Nuclear Weapons.” According to Politico, “But during an interview with Morgan set to air this week, DeSantis called Putin a ‘a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons,’ repeating a similar line he had used in early March to describe the Russian leader. Both lines echoed a 2014 quip from then-Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in which he said, ‘Russia is a gas station masquerading as a country.’ ‘I think [Putin’s] hostile to the United States, but I think the thing that we’ve seen is he doesn’t have the conventional capability to realize his ambitions,’ DeSantis said, according to Fox News. ‘And so, he’s basically a gas station with a bunch of nuclear weapons and one of the things we could be doing better is utilizing our own energy resources in the U.S.’” [Politico, 3/22/23]
DeSantis Called For A Cease-Fire In Ukraine. According to Florida Politics, “Florida’s Governor is calling for a cease-fire in Russia’s war with Ukraine. In comments made to Nikkei Asia, Ron DeSantis called for a cessation of hostilities, lest a situation happen such as the entrenched bloodshed in World War I. ‘You don’t want to end up in, like, a Verdun situation, where you just have mass casualties, mass expense, and end up with a stalemate.’ he said. ‘It’s in everybody’s interest to try to get to a place where we can have a cease-fire.’” [Florida Politics, 4/25/23]
DeSantis Suggested The War In Ukraine Was “Europe’s Fight.” According to Florida Politics, “DeSantis also suggested the fight was Europe’s fight, not so much America’s concern. ‘The Europeans really need to do more. I mean, this is their continent. The U.S. has provided security for them. And yes, Poland — there’s some that are doing stuff, and that should be appreciated. But Germany, they’re not doing anything,’ DeSantis said.” [Florida Politics, 4/25/23]
DeSantis Said European Allies Needed To Do More On Ukraine, Said “This Is Their Continent.” According to Nikkei Asia, “‘The Europeans really need to do more [on Ukraine]. I mean, this is their continent. The U.S. has provided security for them. And yes, Poland -- there's some that are doing stuff, and that should be appreciated. But Germany, they're not doing anything.’” [Nikkei Asia, 4/25/23]
DeSantis Called For The U.S. To Use Leverage To Bring “Sustainable Peace” In Ukraine. According to Florida Politics, “As war rages in Ukraine, Ron DeSantis is calling for a ‘sustainable peace.’ The presidential candidate told the Wisconsin Right Now website that it was time to use American ‘leverage’ to end the country’s continued attempts to defend territorial integrity as Russia’s invasion continues well into its second year. ‘I think what we need to do is use our leverage to bring this to a sustainable peace. Because what we’re doing now is we’re depleting our reserves of weapons that’s going to make it more difficult for us to respond to events in Asia,’ DeSantis said.” [Florida Politics, 7/12/23]
DeSantis Said Opposed Supplying Ukraine With Cluster Bombs, Arguing, “I Think It Probably Runs The Risk Of Escalation.” According to Florida Politics, “Ron DeSantis continues to oppose increased U.S. involvement in Ukraine, with his latest position being against the Joe Biden administration supplying cluster bombs to the country, a move he says could ‘escalate the conflict.’ ‘I think it probably runs a risk of escalation,’ DeSantis said Wednesday on the Howie Carr Show. ‘Basically what I said from the beginning is no weapons that could lead to attacks inside Russia or escalating the conflict. We cannot become involved in this directly,’ DeSantis said, warning that could further ‘diminish our own stockpiles and prevent us from being able to respond to exigencies around the world.’ DeSantis has largely opposed American involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, though Wednesday was the first time he discussed cluster bombs.” [Florida Politics, 7/13/23]
Parnas Hosted Two Fundraisers For DeSantis In 2018. According to the Miami Herald, “A Soviet-born businessman who helped President Donald Trump's personal attorney dig for dirt in Ukraine on his political opponents also helped raise significant sums of money last year for Ron DeSantis as he campaigned to become Florida's governor. Lev Parnas, one of two South Florida businessmen called to testify before Congress as part of an impeachment investigation, hosted two fundraisers for DeSantis in the summer and fall of 2018, the Miami Herald has learned. One of the events was an exclusive affair held at a South Florida residence with fewer than 30 people attending, including the governor. The other gathering was headlined by Donald Trump Jr.” [Miami Herald, 10/9/19]
Trump’s Personal Lawyer Asked Parnas To Dig Up Political Dirt On His Opponents In Ukraine. According to the Miami Herald, “A Soviet-born businessman who helped President Donald Trump's personal attorney dig for dirt in Ukraine on his political opponents also helped raise significant sums of money last year for Ron DeSantis as he campaigned to become Florida's governor. Lev Parnas, one of two South Florida businessmen called to testify before Congress as part of an impeachment investigation, hosted two fundraisers for DeSantis in the summer and fall of 2018, the Miami Herald has learned. One of the events was an exclusive affair held at a South Florida residence with fewer than 30 people attending, including the governor. The other gathering was headlined by Donald Trump Jr.” [Miami Herald, 10/9/19]
DeSantis Announced He Would Return $50,000 Contribution From Company Linked To Parnas. According to NBC Miami, “Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will return a $50,000 contribution he received from two South Florida businessmen now facing charges for allegedly helping President Donald Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani investigate political opponents in Ukraine. DeSantis spokeswoman Helen Ferre said in an email Thursday the money given to a political action committee would be returned to the federal government. Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman are charged with funneling foreign money into U.S. politics. That included the $50,000 given to a DeSantis-affiliated PAC in June 2018 by a company linked to Parnas and Fruman called Global Energy Partners. That was before Trump endorsed DeSantis for governor.” [NBC Miami, 10/10/19]
Parnas Tried To Secure A Position On DeSantis’ Transition Committee. According to the Miami Herald, “One of the Rudy Giuliani associates who appeared with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the campaign trail had attempted to secure an appointment to one of DeSantis' transition committees after the 2018 election, DeSantis said Tuesday. Lev Parnas, a U.S. citizen originally from the Ukraine and one of the two indicted South Florida businessmen accused of funneling foreign money into U.S. elections, helped host two fundraisers for DeSantis and donated $50,000 to his campaign through a Delaware corporation. DeSantis has since directed that money to be handed over to the federal government, but questions have dogged the governor as new photos and videos have emerged over several days depicting DeSantis with Parnas and his partner, Igor Fruman, together at several campaign events.” [Miami Herald, 10/22/19]
DeSantis Was Connected To Lev Parnas Introducing Him To His Campaign Staff. According to Reuters, “Ukrainian-American businessman Lev Parnas and his business partner were arrested in 2019, accused by the U.S. government of funneling a Russian oligarch’s money into American political campaigns. One recipient of Parnas’ donations -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis -- has said he was barely an acquaintance. […] But DeSantis and Parnas worked more closely together than the Republican governor has disclosed, according to a detailed account of their relationship Parnas provided to Reuters and 63 previously unreported text messages from DeSantis to Parnas between May and October 2018, as DeSantis campaigned for governor. A jury later found Parnas guilty of campaign finance crimes and other charges.” [Reuters, 5/22/23]
DeSantis Texted Parnas Over 20 Times Helping With Introductions, Advice, And Fundraising. According to Reuters, “The text messages reviewed by Reuters show that DeSantis frequently – in more than 20 texts – appealed to fellow Floridian Parnas for introductions, advice and other fundraising help during his hotly contested campaign for governor. Two sources close to DeSantis during his 2018 campaign confirmed the texter’s number belonged to DeSantis at that time.” [Reuters, 5/22/23]
Texts Revealed Parnas Served As An Intermediary Between DeSantis And Former Trump Attorney Rudy Giuliani. According to Reuters, “The texts also reveal that Parnas served as an intermediary between DeSantis and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who at the time was the personal attorney of then-President Trump. In one case, 10 days before the 2018 election, DeSantis sent Parnas a text with suggested wording for a Giuliani tweet in support of his candidacy, the messages show.” [Reuters, 5/22/23]
Following DeSantis And Parnas’ Second Meeting, DeSantis Introduced Parnas To His Fundraising Aide For Events In Boca Raton And Star Island. According to Reuters, “Within a week of their second meeting, DeSantis and Parnas began exchanging ideas and gossip about potential donors, the texts show. On May 29, 2018, DeSantis sent Parnas a text introducing his fundraising aide, Heather Barker, and enlisting Parnas’ help in lining up donors for events in Boca Raton and on Star Island, an exclusive community in Miami. ‘Let me know a good time this week to chat about logistics and date ideas,’ Barker texted Parnas. Barker requested that Reuters email her questions for this report, but did not respond to the questions.” [Reuters, 5/22/23]
DeSantis Asked Parnas For Advice On How To Handle A Potential Former Trump Mega Donor, According to Reuters, “The next month, the texts show, DeSantis asked Parnas for advice on how to handle a potential major donor. ‘Would it be reasonable to ask him to donate $50K?’ DeSantis asked. ‘I think he did six figures for Trump.’” [Reuters, 5/22/23]
DESANTIS REJECTED CALLS TO DIVEST FLORIDA FROM RUSSIAN HELD COMPANIES
DeSantis Rejected Nikki Fried’s Call For Florida To Sell Investments In Russia Held Companies. According to the New York Daily News, “Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has rejected a push for Florida to sell investments in Russian-owned companies in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. The Republican governor pushed back after state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the Sunshine State’s top elected Democrat, called on the state move to divest itself of assets tied to Russia. ‘The letter lacks necessary clarity,’ said Christine Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis. She also claimed ‘confusion’ over Fried’s demand that the state moves to seize real estate owned by Russian oligarchs. ‘To the extent, Russian citizens purchase South Florida real estate, for example, that has nothing to do with the state of Florida investing in or divesting from ‘a list of Russian-headquartered entities,’ Pushaw said. DeSantis and two allies, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody control the State Board of Administration. The SBA manages an estimated $195 billion in state-owned holdings, including about $300 million in Russian-based entities.” [New York Daily News, 3/1/22]
DeSantis Spokeswoman Pushaw Pushed Back Against Fried’s Call For The State Of Florida To Seize Real Estate Owned By Russian Oligarchs. According to the New York Daily News, “Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) has rejected a push for Florida to sell investments in Russian-owned companies in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. The Republican governor pushed back after state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the Sunshine State’s top elected Democrat, called on the state move to divest itself of assets tied to Russia. ‘The letter lacks necessary clarity,’ said Christine Pushaw, a spokeswoman for DeSantis. She also claimed ‘confusion’ over Fried’s demand that the state moves to seize real estate owned by Russian oligarchs. ‘To the extent, Russian citizens purchase South Florida real estate, for example, that has nothing to do with the state of Florida investing in or divesting from ‘a list of Russian-headquartered entities,’ Pushaw said. DeSantis and two allies, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody control the State Board of Administration. The SBA manages an estimated $195 billion in state-owned holdings, including about $300 million in Russian-based entities.” [New York Daily News, 3/1/22]
DeSantis Has Come Under Fire For Not Divesting Florida Money From Russian Investments. According to Newsweek, “As companies and governments look for ways to squeeze Russia economically for its invasion of Ukraine, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis faces increasing pressure to pull the state’s $300 million in investments linked to the country. Since the conflict broke out over a month ago, members of both parties have supported sanctions and other measures meant to punish Russian aggression. However, DeSantis, a possible 2024 Republican contender for president, has come under fire for not divesting the state’s retirement system from Russia. Florida’s Democratic congressional delegation last week urged DeSantis to immediately divest the Florida Retirement System from Russian-owned or headquartered businesses. The call came in a letter asking DeSantis, in his capacity as head of the State Board of Administration, to ‘immediately’ divest the $300 million worth of investments in Russian-linked companies.” [Newsweek, 3/28/22]
Florida State Pension Fund Reportedly Lost $200 Million Invested In Russian Companies After DeSantis Failed To Divest Florida’s Holdings. According to WFLA, “In the intervening months since Russia invaded Ukraine, oil prices have risen, inflation has increased, and the state of Florida has reportedly lost millions due to investment in Russia. Even before the losses, Florida Democrats had urged the state to divest itself from the money it’s invested in Russian companies. Now, Democrat Andrew Learned (D-Brandon) says the state’s pension fund has lost $200 million from its investments in Russia, following sanctions on the country due to the war. The state reportedly has $300 million invested in Russia-based companies.” [WFLA, 5/4/22]
30 State Politicians Sent DeSantis A Letter Requesting That He Add Divestment Of Florida’s Russian Assets To The Upcoming Special Session. According to the Capitolist, “A consortium of 30 state politicians penned a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday morning, requesting that he add the divestment of Russian assets to the agenda for the upcoming Special Session. According to the House of Representatives’ most recent financial report, the state has over $300 million of the Florida Retirement system funds invested in Russia, including $117 million in companies sanctioned by the federal government. Lawmakers included in the letter, such as Sen. Shevrin Jones, Rep. Dan Daley, and Rep. Allison Tant, among others, claim that Florida’s position is helping prop up the Russian economy in a period of fiscal depression. It has been noted, however, by the Office of the Governor, that a simple divestment has not been possible since February 25, when the Russian government enacted strict capital control. The way in which the sale of Russian equities on the Moscow Stock Exchange would be conducted is unclear, as Putin’s government is not currently permitting foreign investors to do so.” [Capitolist, 5/10/22]
The Office Of The Governor Stated Previously The Sale Of Florida’s Investments In Russia Was Not Possible Due To Russia’s Recently Enacted Strict Capital Control. According to the Capitolist, “A consortium of 30 state politicians penned a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday morning, requesting that he add the divestment of Russian assets to the agenda for the upcoming Special Session. According to the House of Representatives’ most recent financial report, the state has over $300 million of the Florida Retirement system funds invested in Russia, including $117 million in companies sanctioned by the federal government. Lawmakers included in the letter, such as Sen. Shevrin Jones, Rep. Dan Daley, and Rep. Allison Tant, among others, claim that Florida’s position is helping prop up the Russian economy in a period of fiscal depression. It has been noted, however, by the Office of the Governor, that a simple divestment has not been possible since February 25, when the Russian government enacted strict capital control. The way in which the sale of Russian equities on the Moscow Stock Exchange would be conducted is unclear, as Putin’s government is not currently permitting foreign investors to do so.” [Capitolist, 5/10/22]
DeSantis Expressed Separate For Keeping Israeli And Ukrainian Aid Separate, Said Ukraine Did Not Have The Same “Special Relationship”
DeSantis Called To Keep Aid For Israel Separate From Other Issues, Including Ukraine, In The Wake Of Attacks By Hamas. According to CNN, “DeSantis also indicated that he would support a clean aid bill for Israel in the wake of Hamas’ surprise attack over the weekend and Israel’s ensuing war declaration, rather than tying it to other issues, such as Ukraine aid or border security, as some Republicans and Democrats have suggested. ‘What I would just simply do, is you want to help Israel, let’s just do it and don’t try to leverage other things, but that’s how Congress operates, I’ll let them do that,’ DeSantis said. ‘This is an hour that calls for strong support.’” [CNN, 10/11/23]
DeSantis Argued Ukraine Did Not Have The “Special Relationship” With The United States As Israeli Did, Saying He Supported Israeli Aid While Was Skeptical Of Ukrainian Aid. According to Florida Politics, “Ron DeSantis has been a skeptic of the American mission in Ukraine for some time, and the Hamas attacks on Israel are only giving him more pause. […] He continued to contrast the situations in Israel and Ukraine, arguing U.S. dollars are better spent in Israel. ‘Israel has been a longtime ally. We have supported them, but it’s been at levels that have been relatively small in comparison. I think Israel is a unique ally for us. They’re our top ally in the Middle East. They are a country that we can depend on when the chips are down for us,’ DeSantis said. He suggested the same could not be said about Ukraine, and that the ‘special relationship’ between the U.S. and Israel is ‘something that Congress will be mindful of.’” [Florida Politics, 10/11/23]