George Conway: DeSantis plans for new police force to monitor

Attorney George ConwayGeorge ConwayGeorge Conway: GOP blocking Jan. 6 commission ‘more appalling’ than both Trump acquittals Press: Get orange jumpsuit ready: extra large Influential Republicans detail call to reform party, threaten to form new one MORE is criticizing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantisThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Dems barrel towards voting rights vote with no outcome The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Voting rights week for Democrats (again) Trump-DeSantis tensions ratchet up MORE (R)’s plans to establish a police agency to oversee elections in the state.  

“It’s all play-acting, it’s performance art,” Conway, who made a name for himself as a high-profile critic of the Trump White House, said during an appearance on CNN’s “New Day” on Wednesday.

The governor’s proposal seeks $6 million to hire 52 people to establish the Office of Election Crimes and Security which would be part of the Flordia Department of State. DeSantis wants the office to specifically “investigate, detect, apprehend, and arrest anyone for an alleged violation” of election laws, The Washington Post reported.

“It’s designed for DeSantis to protect himself … so that nobody can accuse him of being soft on the great election fraud, the fraudulent fake election fraud of 2020, and it’s just pathetic,” Conway added on Wednesday, noting that former President TrumpDonald TrumpTrump lawyers to Supreme Court: Jan. 6 committee ‘will not be harmed by delay’ Two House Democrats announce they won’t seek reelection DiCaprio on climate change: ‘Vote for people that are sane’ MORE won Florida in the previous election.

“This election was just a remarkable feat of democracy. It should’ve been celebrated. We were in the middle of a global pandemic and yet we had the greatest turnout we’ve had in decades,” he also said.

DeSantis, who is seen by many as a prospective GOP presidential candidate in 2024, said during his State of the State address that the office would “ensure that elections are conducted in accordance with the rule of law.”

“I propose an election integrity unit whose sole focus will be the enforcement of Florida’s election laws,” he said, according to the Post.

“This will facilitate the faithful enforcement of election laws and will provide Floridians with the confidence that their vote will matter,” the governor added.

The Hill has reached out to DeSantis for comment.