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Ron DeSantis believes Donald Trump should have more forcefully told his supporters to stop rioting on January 6, 2021 – but said it’s wrong to criminalize that inaction.
The Florida Governor and 2024 presidential hopeful said the system needs to adjust so opposing sides don’t make it their goal to put the other behind bars.
Trump revealed Tuesday that he received a letter from Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith informing him he’s a target of the probe into the January 6 Capitol attack.
‘I think it was shown how [Trump] was in the White House and didn’t do anything while things were going on,’ DeSantis said during a press conference on Tuesday. ‘He should’ve come out more forcefully.’
He added: ‘But to try and criminalize that, that’s a different issue entirely.’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Donald Trump should have responded more ‘forcefully’ on January 6
Comes after Trump revealed on Truth Social on Tuesday that he was sent a letter by Special Counsel Jack Smith informing him he is a target of the January 6 investigation – meaning an indictment is likely coming soon
‘I think that we want to be in a situation where you don’t have one side just constantly trying to put the other side in jail,’ DeSantis said. ‘And that, unfortunately, is what we’re seeing now.’
There has been repeated criticism of Trump for his inaction on January 6, 2021 when his supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol to protest results of the 2020 presidential election.
Most harsh of all are the critics who claim Trump incited the riot and is therefore to blame for his supporters’ actions.
The DOJ’s investigation into January 6 could result in Trump receiving his third indictment.
In a post on his Truth Social account on Tuesday, the former president said he was given the letter while having dinner on Sunday night confirming he is the subject of a criminal investigation into the Capitol riot.
The riot is being investigated along with the efforts by Trump and his circle to overturn the 2020 election results.
Trump said he would ‘almost certainly’ be arrested and indicted. The letter gave him four days to respond.
Trump was also offered a chance to speak to the grand jury later this week at the federal courthouse in Washington D.C.
Special Counsel Jack Smith (pictured) already charged Trump last month on 37 felony counts alleging he illegally kept classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate
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In the Truth Social post, the ex-president ripped into Special Prosecutor Jack Smith, claimed the investigation is ‘election interference’ and accused President Joe Biden of ‘going after his number one political opponent.’
Trump still holds a commanding poll lead against other 2024 Republican candidates, but could now be facing three criminal trials that coincide with the campaign season.
DeSantis is the only other candidate besides Trump who has consistently earned double-digit support in national polls.
The latest could result in charges of obstructing an official proceeding in relation to Congress’ Electoral College count on January 6, as well as defrauding the government over a ‘fake electors’ scheme.
‘Deranged Jack Smith, the prosecutor with Joe Biden’s DOJ, sent a letter (again, it was Sunday night!) stating that I am a TARGET of the January 6th Grand Jury investigation, and giving me a very short 4 days to report to the Grand Jury, which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment,’ Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform.
Smith is leading the Justice Department’s investigation of attempts by Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. He’s also in charge of the probe of Trump’s handling of classified materials found at Mar-a-Lago after he left office.
Trump receiving a target letter means investigators have gathered substantial evidence linking the recipient to the crime. It indicates that an indictment is nearing.
Usually, such letters invite the recipient to appear before a grand jury to offer evidence.
The New York Times reports that Trump is expected to decline the invitation to appear.
DeSantis said the system needs to change where one side isn’t always trying to put the other behind bars. Pictured: Rioters descend on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 to protest the 2020 election results
Jared Kushner (left), Trump’s son-in-law who served as a White House adviser, and Rudy Giuliani (right), Trump’s personal lawyer, have already spoken with prosecutors
Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Smith in November.
Part of his probe examines testimony and documents related to fundraising, Trump’s rally ahead of the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and communications between Trump associates and election officials in battleground states.
Smith subpoenaed local election officials in Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania in December, asking for communications with or involving Trump, his 2020 campaign staffers and other allies involved in his efforts to try to overturn Biden’s win.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who served as a White House adviser, and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani have also spoken with prosecutors.
