Key facts
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for accountability and potential prosecution over a leaked grand jury report.
- The leaked report was critical of the Hope Florida program.
- A recent appeals court ruling ordered the report to be expunged from public record.
- Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated law enforcement is investigating the leak.
- Uthmeier said charges could be filed if violations are found.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday called for accountability and potential prosecution of those responsible for leaking a grand jury report that was critical of the Hope Florida program. The governor's remarks came a day after a three-judge panel on the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled that the report should never have been issued and ordered it to be expunged from public record.
Speaking at a press conference in Miami, DeSantis described the scandal as a "hoax" and defended the named staffers and officials, stating their reputations had been improperly harmed. "I don’t think you can just say we’re going to just move on," DeSantis said. "I think you need to hold the people accountable who disclose this because I think it’s been very very serious and it was political."
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, whose name was mentioned in the grand jury report, joined DeSantis at the press conference. Uthmeier indicated that law enforcement is examining the case and that state attorneys or the statewide prosecutor could pursue charges if any violations are identified.