If indeed failed former president Donald Trump winds up being indicted by a Manhattan grand jury this week, it could wind up putting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in a no-wing position.
Even though Trump’s attorneys have said he will show up in Manhattan to be booked and processed if indeed he is charged in New York, there remains a chance he might refuse to surrender, which would set off a chain of events that could wind up forcing DeSantis to make a decision that could hurt his chances of being the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, the New York Times reports.
While the law is definitely on the side of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg when it comes to demanding that Trump show up for his perp walk, fingerprinting, and mug shots, there’s always the chance Donald will dig in his heels.
What if Trump refuses? What if he says he won’t leave his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida?
That’s where DeSantis would have to make a choice: Follow the law and extradite Trump or refuse to cooperate. If he does the former, he risks alienating millions of loyal Trump supporters. And if he doesn’t hand over the ex-president, he looks like a lawless pawn who is afraid of the Donald.
“Surrender, some might argue, is not in the confrontational former president’s DNA, and he often seems to relish antagonizing and attacking the prosecutors who have investigated him,” the Times explains. “In the unlikely event that the former president refuses to surrender, he would put Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, his leading but undeclared rival for the Republican nomination, in an awkward political position. Under law, the role of Mr. DeSantis would be essentially ministerial and he would have few legal options other than approving an extradition request from New York.”
“Still, if New York prosecutors sought Mr. Trump’s extradition, Mr. DeSantis would face an unenviable dilemma. He would be compelled to choose between authorizing an arrest warrant for Mr. Trump and inflaming his base, or attempting in some way to aide his Republican rival, and possibly face legal action as a result.”
Ron DeSantis is damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t. Ironically, Trump may wind up destroying DeSantis and his presidential aspirations before any debates are held or ballots cast.
