Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized Florida Governor and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis on Monday, labeling him as “pathetic” and accusing him of chasing “attention” by suggesting that presidents should exert more control over the Department of Justice (DOJ).
What Happened: In a recent interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, Clinton expressed her concerns over DeSantis’ stance on the DOJ’s independence.
“He’s promising anything to try to get some attention,” Clinton said.
See Also: Ron DeSantis Pledges To Slash Footprint Of Federal Agencies’ Size By 50% If Elected In 2024
“It’s kind of pathetic, isn’t it?,” she added.
Clinton responded after the MSNBC host brought up DeSantis’ prior statements, in which he raised doubts about the constitutional validity of an autonomous DOJ. DeSantis had contended that the president should exert greater control over such organizations.
“There’s always been an assumption, for example, that agencies like the DOJ and FBI are quote ‘independent.'” DeSantis said in an interview on the Larry P. Arnn Show in April.
“That’s like, Washington speak. ‘Oh, these are independent — the president can’t be involved in those agencies.'”
DeSantis’ press secretary, Bryan Griffin, told Insider through email that DeSantis still holds this stance and “does not care what Hillary Clinton has to say.”
Why It Matters: DeSantis’ controversial views on the DOJ come amidst a series of challenges for the Florida Governor. He has recently seen a decline in his polling numbers, dropping to third in a key Republican poll. This decline has led to changes within his campaign team, including the appointment of a new campaign manager.
Florida governor has also faced criticism from former President Donald Trump, who targeted him during an Iowa Republican event, questioning his support for ethanol and its potential impact on Iowa.
Photo Courtesy: Evan El-Amin On Shutterstock.com
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