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Lawyers for DeSantis, who is being sued for allegedly targeting
Disney for company leadership's political views, filed a motion
on Friday in Tallahassee, Florida, asking U.S. District Judge
Mark Walker be recused in the case.
Disney sued DeSantis in April for allegedly "weaponizing" state
government in retaliation for the company's criticism of a law
that banned classroom discussion of sexuality and gender
identity with younger children. Opponents labeled the measure
the "don't say gay" law.
The company alleged DeSantis rallied the Republican-controlled
legislature to strike back at "woke Disney" and seize control of
an administrative district, created in 1967, that helped Disney
develop theme parks and resorts. The district, originally known
as Reedy Creek Improvement District, was also named as a
defendant.
DeSantis' lawyers argued on Friday that the judge overseeing
that case demonstrated potential partiality while handling
separate cases in which the judge mentioned Disney as an example
of state retaliation.
Considering Walker's statements, "the court's impartiality in
this matter might reasonably be questioned," DeSantis' lawyers
said in the their motion.
DeSantis is expected to jump in to the Republican presidential
nomination contest in the coming days and could be a potentially
tough challenger to front-runner Donald Trump. The eventual
Republican nominee is expected to challenge President Joe Biden,
a Democrat, in November 2024.
(Reporting by Jason Lange in Washington; Editing by Matthew
Lewis)
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