Andrew Gillum lawyers say Trump rant proves he was targeted by feds, FBI - Tallahassee Democrat

Former President Donald Trump's post-election screed labeling Florida's politician "Ron DeSanctimonious" didn't spell unnoticed by Andrew Gillum oregon his Miami lawyers.

Trump, successful a statement Thursday timed aft the predetermination and earlier his anticipated announcement of a 3rd White House bid, credited himself for Gov. Ron DeSantis' victory successful the 2018 governor's race, erstwhile helium narrowly defeated Gillum.

In summation to saying helium helped "fix" DeSantis' run aft it had "completely fallen apart," Trump said helium besides got the feds to intervene "when votes were being stolen" successful Broward County.

Chronicling the corruption case

• Back story: Andrew Gillum corruption case: Former politician says feds targeted him due to the fact that of race
• The FBI probe: Torn from the Andrew Gillum indictment: Five cardinal takeaways from the national corruption case
• The motions: Andrew Gillum corruption case: Mysterious Individual B revealed; co-defendant seeks abstracted trial

David Markus and Katherine Miller, who are representing Gillum connected national nationalist corruption charges involving donations to his gubernatorial campaign, didn't occurrence backmost at insults Trump hurled astatine Tallahassee's erstwhile mayor.

Instead, they cited Trump's connection successful a question filed Friday successful national tribunal saying it further supported their petition for a proceeding connected whether the national authorities selectively prosecuted Gillum due to the fact that of his race. His lawyers asked for the proceeding on  Election Day motions that besides sought dismissals connected each counts.

"Former President Trump's posts rise superior questions astir however precisely Trump 'fixed' DeSantis' run and what Trump directed the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office to do, and whether determination is immoderate transportation to the FBI's probe and aboriginal prosecution of Gillum," Gillum's lawyers wrote.

In his statement, Trump alluded to fraud without offering immoderate evidence.

"I was each successful for Ron, and helium bushed Gillum, but aft the Race, erstwhile votes were being stolen by the corrupt Election process successful Broward County, and Ron was going down 10 1000 votes a day, on with now-Senator Rick Scott, I sent successful the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys, and the ballot theft instantly ended, conscionable anterior to them moving retired of the votes indispensable to win," Trump wrote. 

Broward County elections officials fired disconnected a connection connected Friday calling Trump's claims flatly untrue.

"The Broward County Supervisor of Elections Office has nary documentation of immoderate national instrumentality enforcement beingness during the 2018 elections," said Ivan Castro, spokesperson for the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. "Also, to clarify, determination is nary grounds of corruption during the 2018 predetermination rhythm successful Broward County."

Trump turns connected DeSantis:

• A timeline of Donald Trump's punches, jabs and attacks connected Ron DeSantis successful past week
• GOP post-election enactment fizzles with Trump onslaught connected DeSantis
• Broward elections bureau disputes Trump assertion astir feds stopping 'ballot theft' successful 2018 election

Lawyers for Gillum, however, said Trump's connection supports a "prima facie lawsuit of selective prosecution (at a minimum for governmental purposes), due to the fact that Donald Trump confirms that helium took enactment done the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office."

Gillum and his longtime advisor, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, were indicted successful June connected charges that they illegally solicited and pocketed run donations. Both were charged with conspiracy and ligament fraud, with Gillum besides charged with lying to the government.

Trump labeled Gillum a cause addict successful his statement, though helium utilized harsher language. Gillum, who successful 2020 was recovered successful a Miami Beach edifice with a antheral suffering from an overdose and suspected baggies of methamphetamine, denied utilizing meth but aboriginal went to rehab for intoxicant abuse.

Contributed: USA Today Network-Florida authorities newsman Zac Anderson.

Contact Jeff Burlew astatine jburlew@tallahassee.com oregon travel @JeffBurlew connected Twitter.

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