Trump Endorses Guy Who Wanted to Use Taxpayer Money to Pay His Legal Bills to Replace Matt Gaetz in Congress
Credit: mpi04/MediaPunch
President-elect Donald Trump preemptively endorsed Jimmy Patronis, the chief financial officer for the state of Florida, to replace Matt Gaetz in Congress on Monday, less than a year after Patronis suggested that the state should spend taxpayer funds on Trump’s personal legal defense.
“Jimmy Patronis, Chief Financial Officer for the Great State of Florida, has done a tremendous job as CFO, where he also serves as the State’s Fire Marshall, and as an important member of the Florida Cabinet. I hear that Jimmy is now considering launching a Campaign for Congress in Florida’s 1st Congressional District!” began Trump in a post on Truth Social.
“A fourth generation Floridian from the beautiful Panhandle, and owner of an iconic seafood restaurant, Jimmy has been a wonderful friend to me, and to MAGA. As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to Grow our Economy, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Incredible Military/Vets, Restore American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” he continued. “Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!”
Last January, shortly after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropped out of the Republican presidential primary race and endorsed Trump, Patronis suggested that Florida taxpayers should pay for Trump’s legal defense in four criminal cases . From The Washington Post this past January:
Jimmy Patronis, the state’s chief financial officer and a member of the governor’s Cabinet, has promoted a bill to create a “Freedom Fighters Fund” that would provide up to $5 million in “financial support to Florida residents running for President who face legal, partisan, political attacks by the Department of Justice or State Attorneys.”
“It’s in Florida’s best interest to make sure their champion for the President is allowed a fair shot at the White House without being taken down by some fake witch hunt,” Patronis said Monday.
“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. The Left is really good at weaponizing the courts, and because President Biden is so unpopular, they’re not just trying to beat Trump at the ballot box, they’re trying to throw him behind bars, which is outrageous,” said Patronis at the time. “If we can help and support a Florida candidate for the White House, that’s just good from a dollars and cents perspective.”
DeSantis promised to veto the bill if it was ever sent to his desk.
Gaetz, long one of Trump’s closest allies in Washington, D.C., resigned his seat after Trump announced him as his pick to lead the Department of Justice last month. Gaetz announced that he had withdrawn his name from consideration for the position last week amid accusations that he had sex with a high school student and paid other women to have sex with him.
