ICYMI: 'The Week the IN GOP Gubernatorial primary finally began'
Adam Wren, Importantsville:'Eric Doden goes after Mike Braun on qualified immunity'
June 18, 2023
"Eric Doden fired the first salvo this week in what will be a costly and contentious 2024 Indiana Republican gubernatorial primary, criticizing Sen. Mike Braun over his controversial role in advocating for changing qualified immunity, the protection of law enforcement officials from civil lawsuits against alleged misconduct."
"This week, the Fort Wayne businessman joined Braun and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch at the Indiana Fraternal Order of Police Convention in Terre Haute. There, Doden dinged Braun for his controversial 2020 position on changing qualified immunity."
"We are going to be absolutely in favor of protecting qualified immunity, period,” Doden said.“Now, I got an opponent, you guys know who that is, Mike Braun, who is against protecting qualified immunity. I just think it’s terrible public policy and we are going to make sure it is protected.”
"The attack from Braun’s right flank—considered by Braun’s team to be his most potent potential weakness—marks the first time we’ve seen a 2024 GOP candidate contrast with a rival."
"Braun’s team concedes he made a mistake on the issue, which came at the height of the racial justice protests in the summer of 2020. A disastrous interview with Tucker Carlson on the subject further enflamed his relationship with Indiana law enforcement."
"You are an officeholder," Carlson pressed him over the shooting death of Rayshard Brooks in Atlanta, which he called an “egregious incident.” “I don't normally press people like this but it's not fair for you to filibuster without answering the question which is very simple. The officer facing the death penalty had a guy fire a weapon at him. What should he have done then?”
"Probably not have killed the guy," Braun remarked."
"There was, Braun’s team concluded shortly after he introduced the idea, no appetite among his supporters for such a proposal."
There's more...
"But that’s not the only move Doden made in the race this week. The candidate is now leading fundraising for the current period, based on public large donor reports from the Secretary of State’s website:"
Doden: $510,000 raised
Braun: $472,000 raised
Crouch: $280,000 raised
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Eric Doden is a husband, father, and business owner running for the Republican nomination for Indiana Governor. Learn more about Eric’s bold vision to protect Indiana’s most vulnerable and enable families and communities to flourish at DodenForIndiana.com.
