In response to reports of Ron DeSantis’ latest political stunt, DNC National Press Secretary and Rapid Response Director Ammar Moussa released the following statement:

“Ron DeSantis’ latest political stunt is a Florida taxpayer-funded trip to stand alongside a right-wing sheriff who pals around with hate groups and repeatedly lies about the border. This comes on the heels of Ron DeSantis, again, using human beings as political pawns to pander to the extreme MAGA Republican base. Using taxpayer dollars to exploit desperate people, including children, for his own political gain tells you exactly what kind of president Ron DeSantis would be.”

Meet the right-wing sheriff that DeSantis is palling around with today:

• Sheriff Mark Dannels uses frequent right-wing media appearances to demonize immigrants and push falsehoods about the border
• Dannels has ties to anti-immigrant group Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), which is classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
• Dannels is also a member of the far-right “constitutional sheriffs” movement, which claims sheriffs are the highest legitimate legal authority in the country and can refuse to enforce laws they believe are unconstitutional.