Gillum: Trump, DeSantis have done everything they can to undermine FBI

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (Fla.) on Wednesday said his opponent, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.), as well as President Trump, have “done everything that they could to undermine the FBI.” 

Gillum made the comment in response to a question from Fox News anchor Shep Smith, who asked the Tallahassee mayor about an ongoing FBI investigation into corruption in the city’s government. Gillum has said he is confident the investigation has nothing to do with him.

{mosads}”I’ve got no doubt in saying that I don’t expect any trouble my way because I know my conscience, I know how I vote, I know what my values and principles are,” Gillum said. 

“The difference between me and Ron DeSantis, obviously, when it comes to the FBI, is I’ve welcomed their investigation to get to the bottom of any corruption that might exist,” he said. “In his case, he and Donald Trump have done everything that they could to undermine the FBI.” 

Trump-backed DeSantis has stood by the president as he escalates attacks against Attorney General Jeff Sessions and criminal investigations emanating from the Justice Department.

Gillum won Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial primary in a stunning upset win on Tuesday, toppling Rep. Gwen Graham (D), who was favored to win. Many have pointed to his win as evidence that progressives are playing a pivotal role in this year’s midterms.

In an April letter to the Justice Department, DeSantis asked the Justice Department to investigate multiple former Obama-era officials including former FBI Director James Comey, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former Acting Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe and former FBI Agent Peter Strzok. 

“Justice must be blind, not partisan,” he wrote at the time. “We must conduct a thorough investigation into the potential abuses of power for politically motivated reasons committed by Justice Department and FBI officials.”