Bill would provide up to $5 million in financial support
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A bill in the Florida Senate would create a grant program to pay for the legal bills of “victims of political discrimination” who are running for president. Supporters in particular say the bill would help former President Donald Trump.
SB 1740 would create the Florida Freedom Fighters Fund. The bill, introduced by State Sen. Ileana Garcia, R-Miami, says the fund would provide up to $5 million in financial support. To qualify, the applicants have to be Florida residents running for president who face criminal charges by state or federal agencies.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, who endorsed Trump for president Sunday after Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race, said the bill seeks to help candidates who are the subject of “some fake witch-hunt.”
“We need this Freedom Fighters Fund because as the Free State of Florida, we’re facing an onslaught of attacks from the federal government against the Sunshine State,” Patronis said in a statement released Monday. “If we can help and support a Florida candidate for the White House, that’s just good from a dollars and cents perspective.”
We’ve got a Florida Man – Donald Trump – running for President, and he’s facing ongoing legal challenges from Democrats in New York, Washington DC, and Atlanta. Also, if @GovRonDeSantis makes another run at it, he’s said that he too could face legal headwinds. (2/5)
— Jimmy Patronis (@JimmyPatronis) January 22, 2024The Florida Department of Financial Services, which Patronis runs, would set the rules for the fund and would have sole discretion on whether someone is the subject of political discrimination, according to the bill.
SB 1740 has an implementation bill, SB 1738, which establishes the trust fund that funds the program itself. That bill calls for frontloading $5 million into the fund for the first year. The money would come from the Florida Department of State’s funds for administering the Florida Election Campaign Finance Act.
After that, the state would continue to fund the program through voluntary contributions, which would be solicited on application forms for Florida driver’s licenses or identification cards, similar to funds that help pay for the organ and tissue donor registry, or the Florida Council of the Blind.
The bills currently have no companion in the Florida House. they’ve each been referred to four committees but have not been scheduled for hearings yet.
Former President Trump faces criminal charges in two federal cases and two state cases:
Federal case involving interference in the 2020 election. A trial date had been set for March 4, but there is an appeal in the case that must be resolved first.
Federal case involving national security documents being discovered at Mar-a-Lago after Trump left the White House, and accuses that Trump obstructed the government’s attempts to get those documents back. This trial is scheduled to begin May 20.
Georgia case involving interference in the 2020 election. No trial date has been finalized yet, but prosecutors have proposed Aug. 5.
New York case involving claims that Trump falsified business records in connection with a payoff to Stormy Daniels. This trial is scheduled to begin March 25.
Trump also faces some civil trials, but if these bills passed the money could only be used for legal bills stemming from criminal cases.
Digital journalist Christie Zizo provides the latest in election coverage from Central Florida and across the nation.
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Christie Zizo
Christie joined the ClickOrlando team in November 2021.
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