Biden probes Ron DeSantis over Martha’s Vineyard migrant flight

The Biden administration has opened an investigation into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ flight of migrants from the border to Martha’s Vineyard.

The US Treasury Department is probing whether the Republican DeSantis — a possible 2024 contender for president — misused COVID-19 relief funds to ship dozens of migrants to the rich democratic enclave last month, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) revealed Wednesday.

The agency’s inspector general informed Markey and other Massachusetts members of Congress late last week that it planned to look at the Sunshine State’s migrant spending as a part of an ongoing audit into how COVID funds have been used.

Specifically, the office said in an Oct. 7 letter that it would have a look at whether interest earned on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) grants was “utilized by Florida relation to immigration activities and in that case, what conditions and limitations apply to such use.”

The inspector general’s office said it planned to get this work “underway as quickly as possible.”

“As a part of its oversight responsibility for the SLFRF, Treasury Office of Inspector General has audit work planned on recipients’ compliance with eligible use guidance,” the letter said.

“As well as, as a part of our oversight work of the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act, we have now already sought information from Florida about appropriate use of that fund.”

It comes after Markey and five House members wrote to the inspector general’s office last month demanding an investigation into DeSantis’ spending after the Florida Republican sent nearly 50 Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.

“I applaud the swift response from the Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General,” Markey said in response to the letter. “… I hope that this investigation sheds light on whether Gov. DeSantis misused funds that were intended for COVID relief for Floridians.”

Florida’s state legislature passed a bipartisan budget earlier this yr to put aside $12 million in interest off COVID aid for a program to assist “the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state consistent with federal law.”

DeSantis, who’s running for a second term in Florida and is a probable GOP presidential looking forward to 2024, tapped into that funding for the 2 migrants flights.

State Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat who represents the Miami region, filed a lawsuit against DeSantis last month in a bid to ban him from using state money for any future flights.

Pizzo, who voted in favor of the budget, accused DeSantis of manipulating the language since the migrants were never in Florida — aside from when their planes touched down briefly before heading to the Massachusetts island.

The Democrat also argued the migrants aren’t “unauthorized aliens” because they’re searching for asylum and have legal status inside the US.

DeSantis was also hit with a class-action lawsuit over the flights for an alleged “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme” to move the migrants. That lawsuit suit alleged migrants were duped into boarding planes in Texas with guarantees of jobs and gift cards.

The Biden administration has opened an investigation into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ flight of migrants from the border to Martha’s Vineyard.

The US Treasury Department is probing whether the Republican DeSantis — a possible 2024 contender for president — misused COVID-19 relief funds to ship dozens of migrants to the rich democratic enclave last month, Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) revealed Wednesday.

The agency’s inspector general informed Markey and other Massachusetts members of Congress late last week that it planned to look at the Sunshine State’s migrant spending as a part of an ongoing audit into how COVID funds have been used.

Specifically, the office said in an Oct. 7 letter that it would have a look at whether interest earned on State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) grants was “utilized by Florida relation to immigration activities and in that case, what conditions and limitations apply to such use.”

The inspector general’s office said it planned to get this work “underway as quickly as possible.”

“As a part of its oversight responsibility for the SLFRF, Treasury Office of Inspector General has audit work planned on recipients’ compliance with eligible use guidance,” the letter said.

“As well as, as a part of our oversight work of the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act, we have now already sought information from Florida about appropriate use of that fund.”

It comes after Markey and five House members wrote to the inspector general’s office last month demanding an investigation into DeSantis’ spending after the Florida Republican sent nearly 50 Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.

“I applaud the swift response from the Treasury’s Office of the Inspector General,” Markey said in response to the letter. “… I hope that this investigation sheds light on whether Gov. DeSantis misused funds that were intended for COVID relief for Floridians.”

Florida’s state legislature passed a bipartisan budget earlier this yr to put aside $12 million in interest off COVID aid for a program to assist “the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state consistent with federal law.”

DeSantis, who’s running for a second term in Florida and is a probable GOP presidential looking forward to 2024, tapped into that funding for the 2 migrants flights.

State Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Democrat who represents the Miami region, filed a lawsuit against DeSantis last month in a bid to ban him from using state money for any future flights.

Pizzo, who voted in favor of the budget, accused DeSantis of manipulating the language since the migrants were never in Florida — aside from when their planes touched down briefly before heading to the Massachusetts island.

The Democrat also argued the migrants aren’t “unauthorized aliens” because they’re searching for asylum and have legal status inside the US.

DeSantis was also hit with a class-action lawsuit over the flights for an alleged “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme” to move the migrants. That lawsuit suit alleged migrants were duped into boarding planes in Texas with guarantees of jobs and gift cards.