After tweeting some “context” on the factual assertions by Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg lowered most felonies in his city, PolitiFact was heavily criticized.
Politifact’s Twitter feed pushed the story on Tuesday, drawing attention to the fact-check published last Saturday. DeSantis’ assertion that more than half of crimes were dropped to misdemeanors under Bragg was verified, and the tweet noted that this was “common.”
According to the tweet, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is correct that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has lowered felonies, but this is a standard practice among comparable counties.
DeSantis’s press secretary Bryan Griffin responded to the tweet by criticizing PolitiFact for feeling the need to provide context for DeSantis’s remark.
PolitiFact’s hesitant admission that DeSantis’ claim was valid drew criticism from other social media users.
‘We regret to notify you that Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida is correct,’ radio DJ Joe Cunningham jokingly tweeted in response to a PolitiFact claim.
To sum up, @GovRonDeSantis was correct, as Pradheep Shanker of National Review said.
Joe Concha of Fox News quipped that this was the counterargument- ‘but everyone’s doing it.’
Executive Director of the Minnesota House Republican Caucus, Andrew Wagner, said if judges and prosecutors consistently enforced sentences following state law, we would have far fewer public safety issues in Minnesota and across the country. He said it’s insane that reducing the severity of half of all felonies is becoming “normal practice” in the Minnesota legislature.
GOP digital strategist Alec Sears tweeted, “PoliHacks.”
DeSantis stated that almost 50% of the felonies were reduced to misdemeanors thanks to Bragg’s efforts. According to information on the internet, 52% of crimes screened by NYC prosecutors in 2022 were reduced to misdemeanors. As of 2023, 54% of felony convictions had been reduced to misdemeanors.
As news spread that Bragg might indict former President Trump, DeSantis has been vocal in his criticism and attacks on Bragg.
