Florida Rep. Ron DeSantis is swinging back at an attack ad that paints him as being a sympathizer to illegal immigrants, issuing a cease and desist letter to radio stations airing the ad, Breitbart reports.
DeSantis is making a run at governor to replace termed out Republican Gov. Rick Scott, and somebody in DeSantis' own party is trying to sabotage his candidacy ahead of the August GOP primary.
The ad was paid for by the National Liberty Foundation (NLF), a social welfare nonprofit that's not required to disclose its donors, Breitbart reports.
Whether it's Florida agriculture secretary Adam Putnam, the Republican establishment choice to replace Scott, or the sugar industry whose behind the attack ad, DeSantis' campaign wants to put an end to the spot that accuses him of voting "to give food stamps to people who were in the United States illegally," Breitbart reports.
The ad is attempting to paint DeSantis as sympathizer to illegal immigrants, putting him at odds with President Donald Trump's policies.
"NLF’s ad propagates maliciously false information to your listening audience about Ron DeSantis’ position on illegal immigration,” DeSantis lawyer Charles Spies wrote in the letter, obtained by Breitbart.
"The claim in the advertisement that Congressman DeSantis 'voted to give food stamps to people who were in the United States illegally' is false, and has no legitimate evidence to back it up," the letter said. "If you continue to grant access and air it, then your station bears responsibility for its content, and your station will be knowingly running an ad that is false and defamatory."
There are 11 Republicans so far vying for the Republican nomination. The GOP primary is Aug. 28.
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