Josh Marshall: Doesn't Add Up (chartered flight to Martha's Vineyard)

[Nevilledog]

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/doesnt-add-up

Most of the news discussion about the DeSantis/Martha’s Vineyard saga appears to have moved on to chin-scratching pieces about what it all means and how the politics might shake out. That’s premature. The fact that DeSantis would pull a stunt like this is entirely unsurprising if also morally obscene. But if it was his work why did he fly migrants from Texas? There’s been no clear or really any explanation for why this would be the case. DeSantis won’t discuss it. It seems clear that this wasn’t arranged by actual government employees. At a minimum it was delegated to private parties who quite possibly broke a few laws to do it. The woman “Perla” seems to have disappeared and gave one migrant a card with only her first name and a phone number. That’s not a government employee, at least not one working on the books.

Something’s amiss here. An independent publication called San Antonio Report has been publishing some of the clearest and most relevant detail about the story. A new piece from a few hours ago explains some details about the charter jet that ferried the migrants. It brings up another odd detail. The charter company is a luxury private jet company that normally caters to corporate executives and sports teams. Why that company? One possible clue is provided by the San Antonio Report article: Ultimate Air Shuttle flies frequently to Martha’s Vineyard. The planes used usually work the east coast, not Texas.

This afternoon a number of publications reported that a week ago Florida hired a Florida-based aviation company called Vertol Systems Company Inc to run its immigrant relocation program, making an initial payment of $615,000. Most of these publications have assumed that company ran the flights to Martha’s Vineyard. But that’s not the case. It was Ultimate Air, as we noted above. It’s possible that Vertol subcontracted the flights to Ultimate Air. But why? It has its own fleet of planes and Ultimate Air doesn’t usually operate those specific planes in Texas. And if it’s subcontracting, why would it do so to a company for high-end executive air travel?

Basically nothing about this story adds up. The details don’t make any sense. It looks like an off the books operation possibly funded by the state of Florida but maybe not? I can’t explain DeSantis would say if it’s his operation if it weren’t. And I’m not saying it’s not. But really, none of this adds up.

*the end*

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[tanyev]

2. Possibly an in-your-face to libs AND to TX Gov. Abbott?

Hard to believe Abbott would help DeSantis out-stunt his own stunts.

[hamsterjill]

3. Agreed. Something is fishy.

I dug a little yesterday and it looks like Ultimate Air is out of Ohio. I can’t find a listing for this specific company (even for an out of state business) with the Comptroller of Public Accounts in Texas, so I wonder if they used an Ohio based company for a reason.

Here’s the company’s “about us” information. I didn’t recognize any of the leadership team as being well know Republicans (who Abbott might swing business to), but who knows.


https://flyuj.com/about-us/

All speculation on my part at this point. No way of knowing if this is the actual company but it fits.

[Nevilledog]

9. You mean DeSantis?

[hamsterjill]

10. No, I think Abbott and DeSantis probably consulted one another on this

I understand DeSantis’ part in this. But Abbott has some connection because of the fact that the migrants were in Texas, not Florida, and the plane left from San Antonio.

My opinion for what its worth

[Nevilledog]

11. Abbott has denied any knowledge.

But he's a lying POS so who knows.

[hamsterjill]

12. The louder he denies something, the more likely it's true.

Typical Republican tactic.

Here’s a link to a local story on this. This may have already been posted as I know it was referenced.

https://sanantonioreport.org/kelly-field-san-antonio-ron-desantis-migrants-flight-marthas-vineyard/?amp

[Laura PourMeADrink]

13. Eww reviews say it was disgusting and lacked security screening.

Wonder if they were chosen because 1) airlines needed income so agreed to do it for low fee and who cares about migrants comfort and security 2) Airlines is definitely a one-off outfit which offered some degree of down low.

[hamsterjill]

14. I dunno.

But I think we all DO know that there is a lot more to this than what Abbott and DeSantis are saying.

And there’s some financial aspect to it. There always is with a Republican.

[RockRaven]

4. If it WASN'T actually the state of FL or TX that paid for it, but rather, say, a Repuke pol's PAC

how would that change the analysis of whether or not a crime was committed? Would it make a difference?

[Historic NY]

5. GET THE plane serial number and check the filed FAA flight paths

Here is a Link probably from the flight logs

[link:https://www.mvtimes.com/2022/09/15/know-flights-refugees-took/|]

[link:https://www.mvtimes.com/2022/09/15/know-flights-refugees-took/|]

[rubbersole]

6. Stunts 'R Us taint cheap.

Inflation.

[Brother Buzz]

8. It certainly would be cheap if, say, you used federal coronavirus relief money...

as your private slush fund.

[rubbersole]

15. That's what it's for, silly.

Says every repub governor. (Or volleyball stadiums.)

[Baitball Blogger]

7. ha-ha-ha. I'm laughing my ass off as everyone is falling over themselves

trying to make any legal sense of what a Florida Republican governor is doing.

Hint: Nothing they do will make legal sense. The question is, will someone hold them accountable. The FBI usually looks the other way, which is why the Florida corruption is now spreading to other states.