'Why so zealous': DeSantis defends Trump amid indictment in classified documents case

Gov. Ron DeSantis came to former President Donald Trump defense Thursday after federal charges involving classified documents at Mar-a-Lago became public, with the governor declaring that federal prosecutors are being "zealous" in pursuing Trump and vowing to "bring accountability" to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Trump announced on social media Thursday that he had been indicted. DeSantis and other Florida Republicans such as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Reps Matt Gaetz and Greg Steube rushed to support Trump before the indictment was made public Friday afternoon, detailing seven charges against the former president.

The indictment details 37 felony charges, including violations of the Espionage Act. Among the charges: Conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, scheming to conceal and making false statements. The most serious charges come with a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

"The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society," DeSantis tweeted. "We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter? The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all."

More: DeSantis makes surprise trip to border as he works to outflank Trump on right, immigration

Reaction from Florida's top Republicans

DeSantis, who is challenging Trump in the Republican presidential primary, was joined by GOP members of Florida's congressional delegation in backing Trump amid the indictment.

"They’ll stop at nothing to take down the #1 contender in the 2024 field!" U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, tweeted late Thursday. "This is election interference!"

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Niceville, tweeted that the indictment won't stop Trump from winning the presidency again.

"The phony Boxes Hoax indictment is an attempt to distract the American public," Gaetz tweeted, adding: "This scheme won't succeed."

Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted "There is no limit to what these people will do to protect their power & destroy those who threaten it, even if it means ripping our country apart & shredding public faith in the institutions that hold our republic together."

Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott said "we have completely lost trust" in the Department of Justice and the U.S. "sure looks like a Banana Republic."

The reaction among Florida Republican leaders to Trump's second indictment was consistent with the GOP's response nationally. The party largely is defending the former president.

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney was one of the few prominent elected Republicans to criticize Trump after the indictment.

"Mr. Trump brought these charges upon himself by not only taking classified documents, but by refusing to simply return them when given numerous opportunities to do so," Romney said in a statement. "These allegations are serious and if proven, would be consistent with his other actions offensive to the national interest."

From subtle jab to full support: How DeSantis is dealing with indictments

The indictment says Trump kept classified documents detailing the "defense and weapons capabilities" of the U.S. and other country, the U.S. nuclear programs, U.S. vulnerabilities to military attacks, and U.S. retaliation plans in the event of an attack.

"The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods," the indictment reads.

DeSantis has been more critical of Trump since announcing his presidential campaign, but has focused on policy disagreements while avoiding the former president's personal baggage and legal troubles.

Trump was indicted in April on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case related to alleged hush money payments to an adult film star.

In his first comments about that indictment, DeSantis took a subtle jab at Trump by highlighting the tawdry nature of the incident.

"I don't know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of affair — I just, I can't speak to that," DeSantis said, adding that the prosecution was a "manufactured circus" and he wouldn't be involved in it because "I've got real issues I gotta deal with here in the state of Florida."

DeSantis' comments drew a strong rebuke from Trump and his allies, and he since has been unequivocal in condemning the efforts to prosecute the former president.

How will bombshell news impact the polls?

Trump claims the prosecutions are politically motivated, and many Republican voters rallied around him after his first indictment.

Trump's support among GOP primary voters increased after the first indictment, with 53% currently backing him according to the Real Clear Politics average of national polling.

Sarah Longwell, an anti-Trump Republican pollster, tweeted Friday that Trump voters say they'll stick with him despite new indictments.

"We've been asking Trump voters in focus groups whether or not additional indictments would make them more or less likely to support Trump," Longwell tweeted. "Many people say more. Many say it doesn't change things one way or another. Almost no one says 'less.'"

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gov. Ron DeSantis comes to Donald Trump's defense amid indictment