Ron DeSantis downplayed ties to Giuliani associates. Then we found them hugging.

[Sancho]

https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2019/10/18/ron-desantis-downplayed-ties-to-giuliani-associates-then-we-found-them-hugging/

The pictures show Ron DeSantis leaning in to hug a heavy-set, middle-aged man amid a sea of onlookers.
DeSantis then turns to another man, who wraps his arms around the newly-elected governor at his victory celebration in Orlando.

The two men embraced by DeSantis in these previously unpublished pictures? Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas, the Soviet-born businessmen and Rudy Giuliani associates indicted on charges of interfering in U.S. elections. Obscure until this month, Fruman and Parnas have become major figures in the drama behind the drive to impeach President Donald Trump.

His spokeswoman Helen Aguirre Ferré first asserted Oct. 10 that Fruman and Parnas “may” have attended GOP events during the 2018 elections, but that DeSantis “does not have a relationship with these individuals.”

Four days later, videos and photos of the men huddled together during DeSantis’ victory party emerged.

The Russians and GOP were in bed together all over the US...for years!

[RockRaven]

1. C'mon journos, you can do this, repeat after me: "Gov DeSantis, WHY. DID. YOU. LIE. ABOUT. THIS?"

Don't waste time arguing with the spokesperson about the details of how close they were or were not.

Wait until the governor speaks for himself, and then ask him why he lied:
What was he lying about?
What was he trying to hide with his lie?
What was the purpose of the lie?
Why did he feel like he had to lie?
Who did he expect to believe his lie?
Who pressured him to tell this lie?
How many other lies has he told about Russians, Ukrainians, Giuliani, and/or Trump?

[debsy]

6. Also, ...

Why couldn't this have been pursued with more vigor BEFORE the 2018 election? Surely it would have had some impact since the election was so close (though I still believe there was more to DeSantis's victory than meets the eye - i.e. "cheating&quot .

[HoosierDebbie]

2. Those are two wild and crazy guys!

They get around!

[uponit7771]

3. There are 50 different accounts being investigated by SDNY, bet half of them are kGOP

[debsy]

4. Somebody should investigate their ties to Brian Kemp as well

Sure, voter suppression was committed at the highest levels but what other help has he had over the years. Also, are these guys related in any way to getting state legislatures flipped? It seems to me they have penetrated the heart of our election process and have been waging war against our democracy for many years.

[dustyscamp]

5. Maybe Marsha Blackburn knows them too

[debsy]

7. agreed.

Practically speaking, this requires a deep dive into the GOP relationships at every level of government.