Florida grand jury finds DeSantis administration misused $10 million, but no charges filed

A Florida grand jury found that Governor Ron DeSantis' administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer funds, diverting them to a charity linked to his wife, Hope Florida. The money, originally intended for poor children's health insurance from a Medicaid settlement, was instead channeled to political action committees that opposed a 2024 marijuana legalization ballot measure. Despite concluding the funds were misused for political purposes, the grand jury declined to file criminal charges due to insufficient evidence to identify who was specifically responsible. The report noted that James Uthmeier, DeSantis' former chief of staff, was in a position of authority, and his PAC received the funds. The office of then-Attorney General Ashley Moody was aware of the diversion plans. DeSantis maintained no laws were broken, while Uthmeier and Moody denied wrongdoing and suggested the report's leak was politically motivated.

A Florida grand jury found that Governor Ron DeSantis's administration "misappropriated" $10 million from a Medicaid settlement. The funds were transferred to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity linked to the First Lady, before reportedly being funneled to two political action committees. While the grand jury concluded the money was misused for political activities, they found insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally. The report noted that no witness took responsibility for the initial decision to send the funds to Hope Florida, and that James Uthmeier, then DeSantis's chief of staff, was in a position of authority over the settlement and involved in directing money after it went to Hope Florida. Governor DeSantis denied any wrongdoing, stating the settlement was legally sound and that his wife was not involved.