Tallahassee, FL — Yesterday, CBS Miami released a bombshell grand jury report finding that the DeSantis administration “misappropriated” taxpayer money in the Hope Florida scandal, which they describe as a “sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.”
Finding #12 in the grand jury report states:
“We find that James Uthmeier, as the Governor’s Chief of Staff at the time of settlement, was in a position of authority over those involved in settling with Centene. Testimony identified him as having involvement in directing the money after it went to Hope Florida. No witness admitted or identified who directed the money to go to Hope Florida. Testimony also revealed that Mr. Uthmeier’s Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee, was the prime recipient of the majority of the $10 million taxpayer funds. Testimony further revealed that Keep Florida Clean then distributed those taxpayer funds to the Republican Party of Florida and a political action committee created in 2024 called the Florida Freedom Fund which Mr. Uthmeier chaired.”
The grand jury report also found that Ashley Moody, then Florida’s Attorney General, authorized her deputy to sign the settlement agreement diverting the money into the Hope Florida foundation despite concerns about the irregular nature and political ramifications of that action.
In response, The Florida Senate Democratic Caucus has issued the following joint statement:
“The grand jury report in the Hope Florida case is truly damning. $10 million in Medicaid settlement money — money that the grand jury found was ‘compensation for ripping off sick poor children’ — was knowingly and willingly misappropriated in a sophisticated scheme that the grand jury found was motivated by partisan political purposes. The beneficiaries of that scheme were then-Chief of Staff James Uthmeier and his political action committees — committees that were acting to advance the political will of Governor Ron DeSantis.
“The supposed public servants involved were clearly preoccupied with their own political agenda instead of the people of Florida, and in what seems to be a reward for their misdeeds, two of them were appointed to higher office. This behavior is outrageous, immoral, and in our view, criminal.
“We don’t need criminal charges to know something is wrong and to demand accountability. Attorney General James Uthmeier and Senator Ashley Moody have clearly violated the public trust and betrayed the people they were appointed to serve. The Florida Senate Democratic Caucus unanimously calls for their immediate resignation.”
The Florida Senate Democratic Caucus:
- Leader Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach)
- Leader Designate Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville)
- Senator Kristen Arrington (D-Osceola, Orange)
- Senator Mack Bernard (D-Palm Beach)
- Senator LaVon Bracy Davis (D-Ocoee)
- Senator Shevrin Jones (D-Miami Gardens)
- Senator Brian Nathan (D-Tampa)
- Senator Rosalind Osgood (D-Tamarac)
- Senator Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton)
- Senator Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg)
- Senator Barbara Sharief (D-Miramar)
- Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando)
