Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R.) suspended a Democratic mayor in his state who was arrested last week for allegedly voting illegally in several elections.
Anthony DeFillipo, mayor of North Miami Beach, was charged with three counts of voter fraud last week, punishable by up to five years in prison. DeFillipo is accused of living outside of the North Miami Beach, which would violate the city's charter and mean he committed voter fraud by driving to North Miami Beach to vote three times.
DeSantis suspended him with an executive order on Monday. The mayor's lawyers called the charges a "political hit job."
DeFillipo allegedly lives in neighboring Davie, where he was recorded in cell phone data driving from home to vote in North Miami Beach in August, October, and November, according to the Miami Herald.
The move by DeSantis, a top contender for the Republican nomination for president, comes as he faces criticism from Democrats for reportedly flying migrants from border states to Sacramento, Calif. Democratic governor Gavin Newsom (Calif.) on Monday called DeSantis a "small, pathetic man" and threatened kidnapping charges.