Last week, state Attorney General Ashley Moody warned the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) against what she termed “a politically-motivated investigation of Florida’s immigrant relocation program.”

In a letter to the DOJ, Moody insisted there is no legal basis for California’s request for the DOJ to investigate the program. Moody’s letter responded to a request by California’s governor and attorney general to the DOJ to investigate Florida and defends the state’s actions to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities on a volunteer basis. The letter also insisted that California’s request is a political stunt and not a legal request, as California’s letter does not identify any violation of federal statute, judicial decision or law.

“California’s letter requesting that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate Florida is a ridiculous political stunt. Our voluntary immigration relocation program is lawful, and California’s request fails to identify any violation of federal law. As an Attorney General who leads hundreds of highly-qualified lawyers and has led dozens of legal challenges against this administration, it is jarring that California is not competent enough to articulate even a minimal legal basis for its request. I thought California loved to tout its commitment to illegal immigrants, but now its governor does not want more immigrants in California, claiming that more of them could break his state—how ironic,” Moody said.

Moody called on the DOJ to reject California’s request.

“You have repeatedly stated that ‘political or other improper considerations must play no role in any investigative or prosecutorial decisions.’ Yet, the Democrat Governor and Attorney General of the State of California invite you to do exactly that in their letter to you dated July 6, 2023…While I would urge you not to bail out California or engage in another political investigation or litigation, if you make the unconscionable and unfounded determination to do so, Florida stands ready to fight against DOJ’s overreach. Florida has had tremendous success litigating against DOJ under the Biden Administration and I and Florida’s lawyers stand ready to depose, subpoena, and question Biden Administration officials in connection with such a proceeding… Another opportunity for litigation will only shine a brighter light on the Biden Administration’s complete abdication of its responsibility as to immigration and the jeopardy in which it has placed our country and its citizens,” Moody wrote.