Two Florida lawmakers filed bills that would seek the death penalty for crimes committed against the President of the United States and other heads of state.
The proposals were filed by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) and Rep. Jeff Holcomb (R-Spring Hill) on Monday. Blaise Ingolia referred to the attempted assignation attempt on then-former President Donald Trump last July for his filing in a press release.
“The events that occurred at Butler, PA opened up a lot of eyes to the potential horrors of political discourse. Any attempts on the lives of heads of state or innocent bystanders, on Florida soil, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including the death penalty," Ingoglia said.
President Trump, then the Republican nominee, was shot in the upper right ear by an individual carrying an AR-15-style rifle on the roof of a nearby building last July. After being rushed by Secret Service Agents, Trump rose from the ground with blood on his face and ear and told the crowd to "Fight" with his fist in the air.
The 20-year-old shooter was killed by the Secret Service in the assignation attempt.
“The events that occurred at Butler, PA opened up a lot of eyes to the potential horrors of political discourse. Any attempts on the lives of heads of state or innocent bystanders, on Florida soil, should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including the death penalty," Ingoglia said.
Under SB 776/HB 653, an individual would be sentenced to death or life imprisonment for a capital felony against the head state, which includes the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, or the governor of a state.
The bill also mentioned any attempt on a head of state would be subject to the death penalty.
"As one of the strongest law and order states in the union, Florida is going to lead on this issue because the most serious and heinous crimes should be punishable with the ultimate penalty,” Ingoglia added
Jeff Holcomb also mentioned the crisis at the border, particularly under former President Joe Biden, for its filing. According to a report from the House Judiciary Committee, the Biden administration released nearly 100 illegal aliens on the terror watch list as of August 2024.
“Due to the increased threats in our country, it is clear that Florida has to be a leader with enhanced penalties for criminals who try to assassinate our key elected officials," Holcomb said in the release. "For four years, our borders were opened by the most corrupt president in American history who allowed rapists, murderers and terrorists to freely enter our country, not to mention the many known foreign threats."
If passed, the legislation would take effect on July 1.
