Category: News

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appoints Peter Antonacci as Director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security

July 6, 2022

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) appointed Peter Antonacci as the Director of the Office of Election Crimes and Security.

Antonacci previously worked as a Deputy Attorney General, Statewide Prosecutor and as Broward County Supervisor of Elections.

According to a Press Release from Governor Ron DeSantis’s Office, the Florida Office of Election Crimes and Security is “charged with investigating all election crimes in Florida and overseeing the implementation of measures that will ensure Florida’s elections remain secure.”

Former President Donald J. Trump (R) has maintained the position that the 2020 Election had voter fraud and was “rigged.”

The Florida Office of Election Crimes and Security was put into law after Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 524 into law on April 26th, 2022. It was established as a part of growing efforts to combat voter fraud during elections. Many citizens in Florida and across the Country have expressed concerns about voter fraud and election integrity.

Governor DeSantis said regarding Antonacci’s appointment “I am confident he will lead the Office of Election Crimes and Security with integrity and ensure that Florida’s elections are the most secure in the nation.”

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) said “free and fair elections are vital to our democracy, and I applaud Governor DeSantis for selecting such a respected, experienced attorney to lead this important mission and provide assurance to voters that anyone who commits elections fraud will face justice.”

Moody is currently running for reelection and is unopposed in the Republican Primary. She will face a challenger from the Democratic Party on November 8th.

Antonacci was appointed to serve as Broward County Supervisor of Elections in 2018, after then Governor Rick Scott suspended Brenda Snipes due to “misfeasance, incompetence and neglect of duty” according to the Sun Sentinel.

Antonacci served from his appointment in late 2018 until November of 2020. He had no intentions of running for election and was succeeded by Joe Scott as Supervisor of Elections.

The Sun Sentinel also reported Snipes had been criticized at the time due to lack of transparency with the public and issues in the electoral process, including the misplacement of ballots.

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