Taxpayer-funded security for DeSantis jumped to $8 million as he launched presidential campaign
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves at the Republican Party of Iowa's 2023 Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines on July 28.
By Steve Contorno, CNN
(CNN) — Florida taxpayers paid $8.8 million to protect Gov. Ron DeSantis and his family over the past year as he laid the groundwork for and then launched a presidential campaign, according to a new state report.
The report, released by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, covers July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023 – a period that saw DeSantis fundraise across the country for his gubernatorial reelection, participate in rallies for Republicans in midterm battlegrounds, embark on a national tour to promote his second book and the first six weeks of his presidential campaign.
The state spent $8 million on protecting DeSantis alone – including $5 million on salaried employees and $3 million on travel and other expenses. Another $670,000 was spent protecting Florida first lady Casey DeSantis.
The cost marks a significant increase in providing security for DeSantis and his family from his first term in office. In the previous year, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reported it had spent $5.5 million while watching Florida’s first family.
That, too, marked an increase over his predecessor. During the same 12-month period from 2017 to 2018, FDLE spent about $2.5 million protecting then-Gov. Rick Scott and $384,000 on his wife, Ann Scott.
The department also reported expenses totaling $457,000 to protect various dignitaries visiting Florida – far surpassing previous years. Last year, FDLE spent $154,000 on security for governors and other politicians that had spent time in the Sunshine State. In Scott’s final year, those costs were less than $5,000.
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