Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushes death penalty for child rapists

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushes death penalty for child rapists.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is pushing a tough-on-crime agenda ahead of an expected presidential bid with his support for two bills in the state legislature, including one that would challenge the U.S. Supreme Court.

DeSantis is backing a bill that would authorize the death penalty for child rapists. Under the legislation, a jury – by a vote of at least 8-4 – can recommend a death sentence for sexual battery on a child under age 12. Meanwhile, the next few months are imperative for DeSantis’ political ambitions, with polls showing the governor is the most credible threat to Donald Trump’s hope of securing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis has not officially declared his candidacy.

DeSantis is touting his crime credentials – a message Republicans found effective in the 2022 midterm election – with his support for a series of bills in the state Capitol. 

The Florida governor has slammed Democratic ‘soft-on-crime’ policies and ‘woke ideology’ in other states as he pushes his own vision for America.

His crackdown comes ahead of an expected announcement he’s running for president

He told the Orlando radio station that he thinks the current high court would hear a challenge to the older ruling on the death penalty for child rape. Many of the justices that made that ruling are no longer on the bench,

‘I think we’re right at the law and I think that its current court would consider a challenge to that,’ he said.

He’s also pushing a second death penalty measure that would remove the requirement that only a unanimous jury can issue the death penalty. Legal analyst Glenn Kirschner criticized the governor, saying DeSantis “really is working hard to earn the name, “DeathSantis.” The Florida governor is expected to sign the bill, hoping to fend off criticism of his death penalty record. Prior to 2023, the conservative lawmaker signed three death warrants since he took office. His predecessor signed 28 in eight years.

Meanwhile, the next few months are imperative for DeSantis’ political ambitions, with polls showing the governor is the most credible threat to Donald Trump’s hope of securing the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. DeSantis has not officially declared his candidacy.