ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has named Attorney General Ashley Moody to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who nears a confirmation vote to become part of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet.
“Here’s the thing. I care about your record. Ashley Moody as attorney general never had any blemish on immigration. It was always strong. She’s never been a squish on any of these issues and it’s important. I mean, that’s the part of the problem; she’ll go up there and she’ll be part of the enforcement caucus, not the amnesty caucus, and that’s what we need,” DeSantis said.
The governor joined Moody to make the announcement on Thursday during a news conference at Rosen Plaza, not far from Orlando.
“You better believe as a United States senator, I will work for you,” Moody said. “Those that stand on that thin line between chaos and order, between safety and crime, I have got your back, I’ve got your six and we will all work to protect the American people and make all of our cities and states stronger and safer together, and so I have one message right now to President Trump and to my new colleagues on the United States Senate: America first, let’s get it done.”
In explaining his choice of Moody, DeSantis painted her as a bastion against illegal immigration, the opioid and fentanyl crises, human trafficking and, more generally, the Biden administration. The governor added Moody worked as Florida’s attorney general to reject DEA, ESG and gender ideology while also supporting efforts “to ensure Florida’s education is free from impositions of the radical left.”
Rubio is ever closer to his confirmation vote in the Senate, tapped by Trump in November to be the country’s next secretary of state. At his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Rubio promised an “America First” foreign policy agenda.
Rubio’s confirmation vote could come as soon as Monday, what would be in sync with DeSantis’ remarks on Wednesday as he told a crowd in Polk County that he expected the U.S. senator would vacate his position on Monday afternoon.
DeSantis signaled he would appoint James Uthmeier, his chief of staff, as Florida’s attorney general once the position is available.
“My chief of staff, James Uthmeier, is kind of like Ashley. He’s proven himself in these fights and I think he’s got big shoes to fill, but I think he’ll do a good job doing that,” DeSantis said.
Watch the news conference again in the video player below or by clicking here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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