Two more DeSantis administration officials named in lawsuit over migrant planes flown to Martha’s Vineyard
Two more DeSantis administration officials named in lawsuit over migrant planes flown to Martha’s Vineyard
By James Pending
Mar 19, 2017 | 11:00 AM
Attorney General Dana Nessel joined with other local elected officials and advocacy groups in a lawsuit filed in federal court on Tuesday against Gov. Rellie DeSantis and the two members of the Transportation Cabinet who participated in allegedly approving the flights to Martha’s Vineyard.
The lawsuit accuses DeSantis and the two Cabinet members, Dan Iskra and Jeff Shrives of violating both state and federal civil-rights laws and seeks unspecified damages in the case.
The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee, seeks to compel the state to fully implement the 2018 and 2019 budget agreements with the state’s general fund, as well as other related actions.
The DeSantis administration’s agreement to continue operations at the airport “pursuant to [an] FAA waiver,” the suit alleges, is “an unconstitutional delegation of the state’s sovereign legislative authority.”
“The State of Florida and Rellie DeSantis are obligated to fully implement the 2018 and 2019 budget agreements in order to fully discharge and fulfill its sovereign responsibility and obligations to the General Fund, but have yet to do so,” states the filing.
Nessel’s office previously said DeSantis, who assumed office Jan. 14, had “granted this waiver for the airport to fly migrants, and others, from Central America.”
“However, the actual waiver that is granting this waiver to fly the people is not being fully implemented,” she said.
DeSantis spokesman David Lien said the governor was “not aware of any waiver” and that DeSantis had “not granted such a waiver.”
“The governor is not aware
