Arguing the proposed ballot language is “clearly and conclusively defective,” Attorney General Ashley Moody wants the Florida Supreme Court to block a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to prevent possession of assault weapons.

Moody late Friday filed a document that is a first step in arguing before the Supreme Court, which reviews the wording of ballot proposals to make sure they are not misleading and meet other legal standards. The political committee Ban Assault Weapons NOW is trying to get the assault-weapons measure on the November 2020 ballot.

Saying he refuses to “fashion a remedy in the dark,” a federal judge Thursday turned down a request by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to extend recount deadlines in last week’s elections.

President Donald Trump created a firestorm Friday when, in a tweet, he branded the news media "the enemy of the American people."

Asked this week about Trump's comment, Florida Republican leaders rejected his characterization about the press but empathized with the president's plight.

"A free press is an indispensable part of a democratic system. We do want the press to be accurate and to be fair, but we need to have a free press," Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said.