CNN
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Ken Cuccinelli, a former senior official within the Trump administration, formally launched an excellent PAC on Thursday urging Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president in 2024.
The group, NEVER BACK DOWN PAC, filed paperwork in late February with the Federal Election Fee and is the fourth political committee created to encourage DeSantis to enter the presidential race.
“I’ve been chatting with many grassroots conservative activists across the nation who’re very enthusiastic for Governor DeSantis to run for president in 2024,” Cuccinelli mentioned in a press release. “The power is there, grassroots conservatives see the governor as a pacesetter and a fighter with a successful conservative observe report who will lead the Republican Get together to victory in 2024. Primarily based on these conversations, I’m most assured that we’ll construct an unmatched grassroots political military for Governor DeSantis to assist carry him to the White Home.”
A number of of the impartial pro-DeSantis PACs are run by former Trump supporters and allies. In 2022, “Prepared for Ron” was launched by Ed Rollins, a former adviser to Nice America PAC, and political strategist and former Trump supporter John Thomas introduced “Ron to the Rescue” in November. One other, “Run, Ron, Run!”, filed organizing paperwork with the FEC on Wednesday.
Cuccinelli, who served as appearing deputy Homeland Safety secretary below President Donald Trump, was a notable determine within the former president’s makes an attempt to make use of his administration to pursue unfounded election fraud claims after the 2020 election and was a frequent presence round Trump’s Oval Workplace.
The Home choose committee reported that Cuccinelli fielded an inquiry from Trump and his prime advisers in regards to the government department seizing voting machines after the election, however Cuccinelli mentioned his division didn’t have that authority.
But Cuccinelli had additionally messaged then-White Home chief of workers Mark Meadows in November 2020 about Dominion voting machines, which Trump’s advisers falsely believed had been a part of a fraud conspiracy within the election, based on the committee’s ultimate report.