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Florida officials gift prime Miami real estate for Trump's presidential library

Florida officials decided Tuesday to set aside nearly three acres of prime downtown Miami real estate next to the historic Freedom Tower as a potential site for President Donald Trump's future presidential library.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted to give the parcel appraised at more than $66 million to the foundation planning the president's post-administration archives. They argued that the property owned by the state-run Miami Dade College would provide a "greater benefit to the public" and "increase economic development activities" like Trump's library.

It's the latest demonstration by top Florida Republicans of their loyalty to Trump, who has shifted the center of his political universe to his adopted home state.

The property is flanked by glitzy condos in an iconic stretch of palm tree-lined Biscayne Boulevard, overlooking the waterfront park and across the street from the basketball arena that's home to the Miami Heat. Miami Dade College has used it as an employee parking lot.

DeSantis, Cabinet OK $83 million land buy from GOP donor

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Sept. 30 agreed to pay $83.3 million for four acres of land in Destin, a Panhandle beach town, 10 times the price that the owner, a major Republican donor, paid for it.

The land purchase was one of several projects voted on in one package. After the unanimous approval, however, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said he objected to that approval.

But DeSantis noted the vote was already done: “Well, they’re all bundled, so we’ll take that as a yes, and your objection is noted.”

After the meeting, Ingoglia didn’t expand on his objections, merely repeating that he had “concerns.” Ingoglia has led efforts to pressure local governments to cut spending and cut property taxes in recent weeks.

DeSantis didn’t speak with reporters after the meeting.

Comey indictment puts spotlight on Attorney General Pam Bondi

The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey marks a turning point for Attorney General Pam Bondi and her leadership of the Justice Department: Critics say it will lead to the death of judicial independence, and allies call it justice being served.

Either way, Bondi has set the stage for presidents to openly use the department to prosecute their political enemies, in a move that could come back to haunt Republicans if Democrats take control of the White House.

“She’s so distorted the Justice Department and its judicial independence,” said attorney Ty Cobb, who was legal counsel in the first Trump administration but now is an open critic of the president. “It will take at least a generation to recover from.”

Comey’s indictment crystallizes the cresting concern over the use of the Justice Department as a political tool for presidents to prosecute their enemies — a precedent Trump accuses Democrats Joe Biden and Barack Obama of setting — with Bondi right in the middle.

Byron Donalds Recognized Among TIME Magazine's 100 Rising Stars

Congressman Byron Donalds (R) might not be Florida's governor yet, but he is being recognized on Time Magazine's "100 Next" list of most influential rising stars in America. Rep. Donalds is the only Florida politician on the list, which was released this week.

"Each year, @TIME recognizes 100 leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation," Donald shared on social media. "I am honored to be included as part of this year's #TIME100NEXT list as we fight to Make America Great Again."

“In the 2020 election, he positioned himself as the ‘gun-owning, liberty-loving, pro-life, politically incorrect’ candidate, and won the GOP nomination to represent a reliably red district in Naples, Fla.," Time Magazine's Phillip Elliot wrote. "Once in office, Donalds—who joined 138 other House Republicans in wrongly denying that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election—became one of the pluckiest defenders against Trump’s impeachment for the events of Jan. 6, 2021.”

Donalds, who represents District 19, was endorsed by President Donald Trump in his gubernatorial bid back in February.