Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody Pushes Back Against California Democrats’ Request for DOJ Investigation
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida’s Republican Attorney General, Ashley Moody, has responded to California Democrats’ call for a Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the state’s migrant flights to California and Martha’s Vineyard. Moody contends that the transfers were legal and labeled the request from California officials as a “political stunt.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta have criticized Florida’s transport of migrants from New Mexico to Sacramento, calling it “cruel” and a “political stunt.” In response, Moody sent a three-page letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging him to ignore the request from California officials.
Moody stated, “California’s letter requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Florida is a ridiculous political stunt. Our voluntary immigration relocation program is lawful, and California’s request fails to identify any violation of federal law. It is jarring that California is not competent enough to articulate even a minimal legal basis for its request.”
In her letter to Garland, Moody also questioned why Newsom and Bonta were only requesting an investigation of the DeSantis administration and not other officials involved in migrant relocation efforts, such as GOP Texas Governor Greg Abbott or Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Moody accused Newsom and Bonta of targeting Florida because Governor Ron DeSantis is a potential presidential candidate and a front-runner to run against President Joe Biden in the next election. She wrote, “The two most senior elected Democrats in California evidently do not believe that the current president can win re-election against Gov. DeSantis. Instead, they hope that DOJ can be improperly utilized, yet again, against a Republican presidential candidate during an election.”
California law enforcement officials have already traveled to Florida to investigate the migrant flights to Sacramento, according to the letter to Garland. However, no additional details were provided. Moody’s office did not immediately respond to questions about the nature of the investigation or who California authorities may have spoken to.
Moody, who was reelected last year and is seen as a potential candidate for Florida governor in 2026, has been a staunch ally of Governor DeSantis. She has endorsed his campaign for president and has sued the Biden administration multiple times over immigration policy.
Florida’s migrant relocation program has faced criticism in the past, with the first round of flights from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard sparking lawsuits and investigations. State legislators have made adjustments to the program to address concerns raised by Democratic state senators.
Moody stated in her letter to the DOJ that all the flights were voluntary, and the migrants gave verbal and written consent. They were transported to a third-party charity group in California.
It is unclear whether Governor DeSantis’ office requested that the letter be sent to Garland, and Moody’s office did not respond to questions about the information received about the flights before sending the letter to the DOJ.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the DOJ declined to comment on the matter.
How does Florida’s voluntary immigration relocation program align with federal immigration laws and contribute to a compassionate response to the border crisis?
Republican and a potential political rival for Newsom in the upcoming 2022 elections.
Furthermore, Moody argued that the transportation of migrants from New Mexico to California and Martha’s Vineyard was not only legal but also a humanitarian effort to alleviate the strain on border facilities in Texas and provide aid to overwhelmed states. She emphasized that Florida’s voluntary immigration relocation program adheres to federal immigration laws and is a compassionate response to the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
Moody called upon the Department of Justice to prioritize its resources and focus on addressing significant issues rather than indulging in what she deemed a politically motivated investigation aimed at undermining Florida’s immigration policies. She expressed concern that California’s request was a deliberate attempt to divert attention from its own failures in managing the border crisis and to score political points against Republican-led states.
The letter from Florida’s Attorney General comes amidst ongoing clashes between Republican and Democratic-led states over immigration policies and border control measures. The issue of migrant relocation has been a contentious one, with states like Florida and Texas taking action to assist overwhelmed border states, while critics argue that such efforts are politically motivated and create additional burdens for states already grappling with immigration challenges.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the Department of Justice will respond to California’s request for an investigation, and whether this conflict between states will further escalate or find a resolution.
