Gov. Ron DeSantis has tasked Florida’s Attorney General and state law enforcement agencies with investigating the second assassination attempt on President Donald Trump, expressing doubts about the ability of federal investigators to handle the case objectively. DeSantis signed an executive order assigning the investigation to state authorities, bypassing federal involvement.

DeSantis explained his decision by pointing out that the same federal agencies prosecuting Trump should not oversee this investigation, saying, “It’s not in the best interest of our nation.” He stressed that the suspect, Ryan Routh, broke Florida law, giving the state the authority to prosecute more serious charges, including attempted murder.

Routh, a Democrat donor and vocal critic of Trump, was arrested near Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course with a large rifle. Although federal authorities have charged Routh with gun violations, DeSantis criticized the charges as insufficient, suggesting Routh’s ties to international forces or U.S. intelligence should be further scrutinized.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody echoed DeSantis’s concerns, stating, “Florida is launching its own investigation to ensure the truth is revealed.” She emphasized that the state would work quickly to uncover the facts and ensure transparency, which DeSantis argued is lacking in federal investigations, pointing to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting and a previous attempt on Trump’s life in Pennsylvania.

DeSantis’s move underscores the growing distrust of federal agencies, with the governor arguing that Florida is better equipped to investigate the case and provide the public with much-needed answers.