Treasury probing Florida Gov. DeSantis’ migrant flights

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Division’s inside watchdog is investigating whether or not Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis improperly used federal pandemic help to fly migrants to Martha’s Winery as a part of his effort to “transport unlawful immigrants to sanctuary locations.”

At situation is whether or not thousands and thousands of {dollars} in curiosity earned on State and Native Fiscal Restoration Funds, disbursed by means of the American Rescue Plan, was used to facilitate the transport of about 50 Venezuelans from Texas to Massachusetts in mid-September, with a stopover in Florida on the best way.

The restoration funds program has strict necessities on how the cash might be spent. Paperwork point out Florida officers paid Destin, Fla.-based Vertol Methods Co. $1.56 million for the Martha’s Winery flight and presumably for a flight to Delaware, the house state of President Joe Biden, that finally didn’t occur.

The inspector basic’s workplace has audit work deliberate on “recipients’ compliance with eligible use steerage,” Treasury Deputy Inspector Common Richard Ok. Delmar mentioned in a letter addressed to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who requested the investigation.

“We plan to get this work underway as rapidly as doable, in step with assembly our different oversight mandates and priorities,” the letter mentioned. Treasury doesn’t have a confirmed inspector basic.

Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for DeSantis, mentioned Wednesday that Florida’s Workplace of Coverage and Funds had “articulated to Treasury’s OIG that our use of this curiosity, as appropriated by the Florida Legislature, is permissible.”

“Opinions by Treasury are typical and, as said by the OIG, are ‘a part of its oversight duties,’” Fenske mentioned.

Markey wrote to the inspector basic’s workplace in September, shortly after DeSantis organized the journey, which acquired huge publicity. The Florida governor mentioned the migrants traveled voluntarily to Massachusetts.

“Using federal COVID aid funds on this method runs opposite to congressional intent and seems to violate federal regulation,” Markey and 6 different Massachusetts lawmakers wrote in a Sept. 17 letter to Delmar. Markey mentioned DeSantis was “successfully utilizing COVID-19 aid to attain political factors by exploiting weak immigrants.”

The White Home has known as the journey to Martha’s Winery a “merciless, premeditated political stunt.”

Delmar didn’t point out when the probe could be full. Different regulation enforcement businesses all through the U.S. have additionally launched investigations of migrant journeys organized by Republican lawmakers to Democratic strongholds.

The flight has additionally spawned an investigation by a Texas sheriff and two lawsuits. The Treasury Division referred inquiries to the inspector basic’s workplace, which didn’t reply to a request for remark.

___

Related Press reporter Curt Anderson contributed to this report.

Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved.