Donald Trump's rival Ron DeSantis vows to block former president's extradition

Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, said he will not abide by any extradition request for Donald Trump, who lives in the state.

Mr Trump was backed by his chief rival for the Republican 2024 nomination, who lambasted the decision by a New York prosecutor to charge Mr Trump over a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Mr DeSantis said: "The weaponisation of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American."

He accused prosecutor Alvin Bragg of being backed by left-wing billionaire George Soros.

Mr DeSantis said: "The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct.

"Yet, now, he is stretching the law to target a political opponent.

"Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda."

Mr Trump is a Florida resident and is expected to appear at court in New York next week.

It was immediately unclear what Mr Trump would do, and whether an extradition request would be issued. His lawyers have previously indicated he would go to New York voluntarily.

Prior to Mr Trump being charged, Mr DeSantis had said that he would not become involved in “some type of manufactured circus by some Soros DA.”

The law in Florida means the governor can intervene in an extradition if it is contested, but he will be in violation of the US constitution. A 1987 Supreme Court says that federal courts can order him to comply.

Mr DeSantis can, however, slow the process down.

According to Michael Bachner, a New York-based lawyer and former assistant DA in Manhattan, he could ask his legal affairs office or a prosecutor to review Ms Hochul’s extradition demand and write a report on it before signing off on it.

But if the extradition demand is legitimate, he’ll have to sign it within 60 days.

Allies of Mr Trump had previously accused Mr DeSantis of "weakness" for not speaking out more strongly against the investigation.

Mr DeSantis's comments came despite Mr Trump having ramped up his attacks on the Florida governor in recent weeks.

Mr Trump has accused Mr DeSantis of being a "mediocre governor," claimed credit for launching his political career, and repeatedly referred to him as "Ron DeSanctimonious".