Florida Republicans To Hold Rally To Free Jan. 6 “Political Prisoners”

Florida, Donald Trump’s new adopted home, now can proudly boast that it’s also the number one state in the country for having residents charged with crimes in the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Sunshine State also has the most people connected to far-right extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys.

More than 500 people have been arrested for participating in the Capitol riot and 60 of those are from Florida. Charges against Florida rioters range from conspiracy; assault, including on a federal officer; civil disorder; violent entry; obstruction of an official proceeding; and entering and remaining in a restricted building. Many of them have been deemed so dangerous they remain locked up until their trials.

Never mind that, say Florida Republicans. This weekend a handful of GOP political candidates will host a rally in Tallahassee calling on Gov. Ron DeSantis and other elected Floridians to put pressure on federal law enforcement to set free what they are calling the “political prisoners” of Jan. 6. The “Free Our Patriots Rally in Tally” will be held this Saturday, July 10, and is hosted by Luis Miguel, a far-right Republican candidate who is looking to primary Sen. Marco Rubio. “Folks, The patriots who have been hunted down by the corrupt, communist FBI are suffering. Many of them are veterans who fought for this nation,” Miguel tweeted. “Let’s do our part to ensure they’re liberated. We can’t allow this in America. Be there at the Florida Capitol July 10.”

Folks, The patriots who have been hunted down by the corrupt, communist FBI are suffering. Many of them are veterans who fought for this nation. Let's do our part to ensure they're liberated. We can't allow this in America. Be there at the Florida Capitol July 10. pic.twitter.com/nkX1jrZEAQ

— Luis Miguel for Senate (Primarying Marco Rubio) (@LuisMiguelUS) July 1, 2021

Miguel’s Twitter feed is a near non-stop stream of conspiracy theories. He has criticized Rubio for things like getting a vaccine and voting to certify the 2020 election results. Miguel also claims that the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection that resulted in five deaths (including a police officer) was in fact a “False Flag carried out by a corrupt FBI to distract from the Election Theft and target conservatives.”

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Christ has called on DeSantis to publicly reject the conspiracy theory that Trump actually won the election and to investigate Florida’s connection to the hate groups involved with Jan. 6.

“If Governor DeSantis can’t admit the truth about something as simple as who the duly elected President is, is there anything he won’t mislead the public about?” said Crist. “Just as troublingly, his silence is empowering the hate groups that fueled the insurrection of January 6th. Floridians deserve better.”