California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom criticized Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in a tweet on Monday following an incident where a group of migrants was dropped off at a church in Sacramento.
The incident involved a flight that arrived in Sacramento on Saturday, carrying 16 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia. The California Department of Justice launched an investigation into the matter to determine its origin and legality.
Newsom called DeSantis a "small, pathetic man" and compared the situation to a similar political stunt orchestrated by DeSantis last year.
He wrote:
"[Ron DeSantis] you small, pathetic man. This isn't Martha's Vineyard. Kidnapping charges?"
"Read the following."
Newsom attached a screenshot of California's kidnapping ordinance, which reads:
"Every person who, being out of this state, abducts or takes by force or fraud any person contrary to the law of the place where that act is committed, and brings, sends, or conveys that person within the limits of this state, and is afterward found within the limits thereof, is guilty of kidnapping."
You can see Newsom's tweet below.
\u201c.@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man.\n\nThis isn't Martha's Vineyard.\n\nKidnapping charges?\n\nRead the following. https://t.co/kvuxe8Fb6F\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
Newsom highlighted this incident mirrored a previous event orchestrated by DeSantis when he transported 49 migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts as a political stunt for attention.
In September 2022, DeSantis sparked outrage after he took responsibility for shipping the migrants, which included families with young children.
According to reports, the migrants were shipped from Texas after being told they were headed to Boston where they expected to receive expedited work permits.
Instead, they were flown to Martha's Vineyard—a longtime New England summer vacation spot located just south of Cape Cod—and no one on the island nor in Massachusetts' Republican Governor's office had any advance notice of their arrival.
DeSantis has not taken responsibility for the recent flight to Sacramento, and the details surrounding its organization remain unclear.
Many have joined Newsom in criticizing DeSantis' latest stunt.
\u201c@GavinNewsom @NikkiFried @RonDeSantis File charges already!\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@BDOH @GavinNewsom @RonDeSantis DeSantis is abusing FL taxpayer funds for performative hate speech. He won't last long in this joke of a campaign.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@GavinNewsom @RonDeSantis Looks like you can go get him Gavin!\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@GavinNewsom @TimInHonolulu @RonDeSantis Prosecute the pathetic man, hold him to account or another jurisdiction will have a similar experience and it\u2019s horrible way to treat ppl moving here for a better life.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@GavinNewsom @lewing99 @RonDeSantis Go after him!\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@GavinNewsom @RonDeSantis Why don't we have more Democrats like Newsom? The gloves are off. We need more, so much more of this.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@GavinNewsom @RonDeSantis Let's hope DeSantis is charged with this crime.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
\u201c@GavinNewsom @RonDeSantis Charge now!\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1685985387
In response to the situation, Newsom stated his office is working with local officials and nonprofit partners to ensure the migrants "are treated with respect and dignity" and are able to proceed with their immigration cases.
The rivalry between Newsom and DeSantis has been ongoing for over a year, with both governors publicly criticizing each other on various issues. DeSantis recently announced his presidential bid on Twitter, further fueling the rivalry between the two politicians.
As the investigation unfolds, more information is expected to emerge regarding the circumstances surrounding the flight and the motives behind it.
