Tallahassee- To Alex Vindman, corruption is the greatest enemy to democracy. And once again he is at war with it. In front of the Florida Capitol, he told reporters he was running for the US Senate because he “Believes that telling the truth is part of serving. That means I will put myself in the crosshairs to represent twenty-three million Floridians.”
Truth and consequences brought the Lt. Colonel world fame when he refused to lie about a conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Vindman was the Eastern Europe director of the National Security Council, and in that capacity, he was one of the few authorized to monitor that high-level conversation. At the first impeachment hearing, he gave sworn testimony that Trump tried to pressure Zelensky to investigate his opponent, Joe Biden, and son, Hunter.
Now, in the race for the US Senate, Vindman is demanding answers from US Senator Ashley Moody’s role in the scandal surrounding Hope Florida, a non-profit organization run by First Lady Casey DeSantis. As Florida attorney general at the time, Moody allowed the transfer of $10 million in Medicaid funds for children to a Political Action Committee. The PAC, run by Governor Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff James Uthmeier, used the money to place TV ads against constitutional amendments on abortion and legalizing recreational marijuana. A Leon County grand jury was empaneled to investigate. Vindman is demanding that Moody release the grand jury report. “My challenge to Ashley Moody is that if she has nothing to hide, she should go ahead and ask for the release. If she is the reason, it is not being released, which is my suspicion, either way I believe the public has the right to know.”
DeSantis appointed Moody to the US Senate seat when Senator Marco Rubio was appointed Secretary of State. Vindman believes that Moody was rewarded with the post for turning a blind eye to the Hope Florida wrongdoing.
In addition to opposing basic social and healthcare services, Moody has a history of supporting DeSantis and Trump’s concerted assault on the civil rights of Blacks. She has defended the DeSantis voter suppression laws to ensure implementation and the reversal of Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs. She defended the elimination of the North Florida Black congressional district, and the second wave, eliminating 4 Democratic seats this year. A steadfast loyalist to Trump, Moody constantly sued President Joe Biden and joined disgraced Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in challenging the 2020 election results.
