There's trouble brewing inside Ron DeSantis' private army

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There’s trouble in the ranks of Gov. Ron DeSantis’s private army.

We’re talking about the Florida State Guard, a paramilitary force “re-established” by DeSantis in 2022, funded by the Florida taxpayers and serving under the governor’s command.

There actually was a previous Florida State Guard that was created during World War II to fill in for National Guard troops shipped overseas to fight in the war. It was disbanded after the war because, with the National Guard’s return, there was no need.

Why DeSantis felt the necessity for his own little army has never been made clear, although at the time of its creation, he said he wanted an emergency response force apart from the federal government.

Apparently, police departments aren’t good enough.

There are about 1,500 members of the force—although the numbers seem to fluctuate a bit—all styled as volunteers (DeSantis has yet to institute the draft), who are paid on a per diem basis while in training or deployed.

What’s the trouble?

According to Orlando Sentinel reporter Jeffrey Schweers:

Allegations of misuse of taxpayer dollars, sexual harassment and poor planning and budgeting by the Florida State Guard’s top executives have sparked a departure of senior officers, pilots and others who also say they are being retaliated against for speaking out.

In public statements, mostly on social media, they say Executive Director Mark Thieme committed fraud by racking up $100,000 in flight time and other costs to obtain a personal private pilot’s license. They also criticize his spending millions of dollars on aircraft parts and planes incompatible with existing surveillance equipment …

The latest to leave the organization in a public fracas is Master Sergeant Major Michael Pintacura, a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran who helped oversee the Guard’s Special Missions Unit. In a resignation letter dated Jan. 14, Pintacura said he lost confidence in Thieme’s ability to “exercise sound, informed and accountable judgment.”

The Sentinel also noted that Pintacura’s resignation “comes on the heels of the forced ouster of Lt. Col. Jordan Bowen for refusing to give what he thought was an unlawful command … and the resignation of a half-dozen other officers and guard members over disagreements with Thieme and the alleged misspending of state resources.”

DeSantis has asked the state Legislature, now in session, to fund the Guard for the next fiscal year to the tune of $65 million.

While ostensibly called to service to assist with natural disasters and other Florida emergencies, DeSantis has ordered the Guard out of state on immigration enforcement issues. In 2024, for instance, he sent troops to Texas to assist that state with border security.

(Yes, that’s right, your tax dollars were spent to help another state’s border issues. And if that sounds familiar, it should. DeSantis also spent state funds to fly immigrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard to teach those darned Yankees a lesson.)

It was, in fact, in Texas where the alleged sexual harassment originated, where a female Guard member asserts she was targeted by a male supervisor then reassigned when she complained.

Maybe the lesson for DeSantis is to stay the heck out of Texas.

For complete details on all this, I commend the Sentinel’s story, which you can read in full here:

Any thoughts on all this or other issues? Let us hear from you by clicking the Comment link below:

J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a Florida online news service dedicated to sharing news and commentary relevant to Florida readers, whether it originates in the Sunshine State or elsewhere around the nation or world. Bruce is an award-winning former newspaper editor, journalist and author living in Florida, his native state.

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A special note to readers:

Normally, I limit my posts on this website to once a day. I know how annoying an overstuffed inbox can be. But this Guard story just broke, and I felt it should be shared ASAP.

You will note that the bulk of the reporting originates with a reporter at the Orlando Sentinel. There is great watchdog journalism happening at newspapers and online news sites all over Florida. All too often, though, it goes unnoticed outside of a publication’s circulation area or subscription base. With more than 800,000 subscribers statewide, Tropic Press can extend the reach of this important journalism, and that is one of our missions here.

You can help that by subscribing, or if you are already a subscriber, by upgrading to a paid subscription.

Earlier today, I received a bucketful of hateful emails from readers taking exception to my story about Donald Trump’s mental health. Sadly, this is not unusual. As I always do, I simply unsubscribe these people and don’t reply. Apparently, I was an unwelcome intrusion in their inbox. The least I can do is leave quietly without slamming the door.

But I mention this because one of the things I have had reinforced since starting this newsletter last fall is just how raw some people’s political emotions can be. (Yeah, I know, all my reporter friends tell me I’m not cynical enough.) But I mention it here simply as a word of caution: Please, take care out there.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support.

J.C. Bruce

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