The apparent second attempt to assassinate former President Trump (9/15/24) gives us an important civics lesson in federalism vs the national government. Should the state of Florida or the FBI lead the investigation?
How Federalism Impacts This Investigation
We learned from the first attempt on former President Trump’s life that the FBI still needs to be forthcoming with answers to many questions. So, Florida is investigating to get the facts to the people. Is this allowed? Yes, under the principle of federalism, the states work in concert with the federal government. However, the FBI is a federal agency. It operates differently than the state’s jurisdiction. Any government entity (like a state or city) is closer to We the People and will work to get answers to its constituents as soon as possible and with greater efficiency. With its local knowledge and resources, state law enforcement has a crucial role in investigating crimes, instilling confidence in the local justice system.
The FBI’s Role in the Investigation
On the other hand, the FBI has a critical role in investigating high-profile federal officials, such as Presidents, former Presidents, members of Congress, Justices, federal candidates, etc. For example, the FBI has experience handling national security threats. They have an extensive network of resources to handle investigations and coordinate information with other national agencies. However, the most recent high-profile investigation of the former President’s first attempt on his life has left Americans in the dark with many questions unanswered.
Florida’s Role in the Investigation
Florida has stepped up its investigation because this apparent second assassination attempt occurred within its borders. Florida’s law enforcement (like all states) is more familiar with the details of coordinating its investigation with federal agencies.
Another factor is that Florida is home to the presidential candidate and the current governor, who was also a candidate for the nation’s highest office. Some would make this fact political for political reasons. Still, for our civics purposes here, we will acknowledge that the states are closer to the people and can furnish the information we want to know sooner than later.
In Conclusion
The best approach is coordination between federal and state governments. Their joint leadership on this issue can affect how smoothly the next few weeks before the November election go.
This is Common Sense Civics and Citizenship. 🇺🇸
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