‘Wannabe dictator’: Ron DeSantis faces heat after whistleblower files lawsuit claiming he was fired for reporting ‘unlawful activities’

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: In a lawsuit filed on Thursday, June 20, in state Circuit Court in Tallahassee, a former top law enforcement official in Florida, Shane Desguin, has accused Governor Ron DeSantis and his top aides of forcing him into retirement after he refused to carry out orders that he claims were illegal or inappropriate.

Desguin, a career employee of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), rose to become the agency's chief of staff before his controversial departure in November, which he asserts was a "wrongful termination".

What did whistleblower Shane Desguin allege?

Desguin's lawsuit highlights a series of explosive allegations against Governor DeSantis and the FDLE, including violations of state public records laws, illegal orders to arrest demonstrators without probable cause, and directives to obtain photos and personal information of migrants flown to Florida without legal justification.

According to the lawsuit, these issues stemmed from Desguin’s consistent objections to what he deemed unlawful actions, ABC News reported.

"Despite his stellar work performance during his employment," the lawsuit states, Desguin "was subjected to disparate treatment, different terms, and conditions of employment, and held to a different standard because he reported Defendants' malfeasance, gross misconduct, and unlawful employment activities and was subject to retaliation thereafter."

The lawsuit names Governor DeSantis and the FDLE as defendants and seeks unspecified damages. Desguin alleges that the problems began in late 2021 when he was leading the agency's Office of Statewide Intelligence. At that time, he was tasked with new responsibilities related to the influx of migrants flown to Florida by the federal government.

Desguin claims that he was ordered to obtain "photographs, biometric data, and any other pertinent information by engaging with migrants at the airport. As these requests escalated, (Desguin) objected, and emphasized, on multiple occasions…FDLE could not legally conduct name checks, capture photographs, or compile intelligence files without a criminal predicate or reasonable suspicion, as those actions would be unlawful."

Desguin’s opposition continued when officials suggested transporting migrants out of Florida by bus, which he argued could amount to "false imprisonment or kidnapping".

The lawsuit further details an incident in September 2023 when a senior aide to DeSantis allegedly pressured Desguin to make arrests at a demonstration of "neo-Nazis" in Orlando for political reasons, despite the lack of probable cause.

When Desguin pushed back, he was allegedly told, "I don't think you understand. If you look hard enough, you can find a way. The Governor [DeSantis] wants someone arrested today. He [Defendant DeSantis] will stand by you in any arrest."

FDLE’s internal investigation and lawsuit details

Desguin and his former deputy, Patricia Carpenter, were both subjected to an internal investigation by FDLE, which concluded they had violated workplace rules. Prosecutors, however, declined to pursue criminal charges.

Desguin’s lawsuit describes the investigation as a "thinly veiled attempt at character assassination," which he contends was retaliation for blowing the whistle on the alleged illegal activities.

Governor DeSantis' spokesperson, Jeremy Redfern, declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, stating that the administration would address the allegations in court.

However, Redfern pointed to the findings of the internal investigation, citing previous comments by FDLE's communications director, Gretl Plessinger, who accused Desguin and Carpenter of creating "workplace chaos", endangering "the safety of other employees", and acting "dishonestly and unprofessionally".

Desguin’s attorney, Marie Mattox, refrained from commenting beyond the complaint filed in court.

The lawsuit details several key incidents that led to Desguin's forced retirement. Among these is a contentious issue regarding the release of FDLE records related to Governor DeSantis' travel during his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Desguin, having played a role in revising Florida's public records law, believed that withholding these records violated state statutes. His stance was shared by an agency lawyer who threatened to quit over the issue.

Despite Desguin authorizing a raise for the lawyer, the governor's office ordered him to rescind the salary change, leading to his and Carpenter's suspension and ultimately his forced retirement.

Internet reacts to allegations against Ron DeSantis

The public reaction to Desguin's claims has been rather intense, with critics of Governor DeSantis taking to social media to voice their outrage.

"Of course. Tiny D is a wannabe dictator," one posted on X.

"Another one that needs to go to prison," a comment read.

"Worst governor ever @Desantis," someone else fumed.

"The courts literally do not stand up to DeSantis even when he’s completely wrong," another complained.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.