Key facts
- A Florida grand jury found the DeSantis administration "misappropriated" $10 million from a Medicaid settlement.
- The funds were transferred to the Hope Florida Foundation and subsequently to political action committees.
- The report suggests the money was used for political lobbying and contributions to the Republican party of Florida.
- No criminal charges were recommended due to insufficient evidence.
- Governor Ron DeSantis denied any wrongdoing and defended the settlement.
- The report recommended legislative changes to ensure funds are deposited into General Revenue.
A Florida grand jury has concluded that Governor Ron DeSantis's administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer funds derived from a Medicaid settlement with contractor Centene. The report, obtained by CBS News Miami, states that the money was transferred to the Hope Florida Foundation, an initiative championed by First Lady Casey DeSantis, and subsequently funneled into two political action committees.
The jurors found that these funds were used for political purposes, including lobbying against a marijuana legalization ballot measure and contributions to the Republican party of Florida. However, the grand jury reported insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges, noting that no witness took responsibility for the decision to direct the funds to Hope Florida.
Governor DeSantis defended the settlement as "legally sound" and "appropriate," asserting that no Medicaid funds were diverted and that his wife was not involved in the matter. He also criticized the leak of the grand jury report.
The report identified current Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who served as DeSantis's chief of staff at the time, as being in a "position of authority" and "having involvement in directing the money after it went to Hope Florida." Uthmeier's political action committee was reportedly a primary recipient of the funds. The office of then-Attorney General Ashley Moody stated that neither her department nor she had knowledge of how the settlement money would be spent.
The grand jury recommended that the Florida legislature enact a law requiring all state-received monies to be deposited into General Revenue, with consequences for violations. Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly has stated he would reopen an investigation into the incident if elected.