Grand jury report: DeSantis administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer money

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WINK) — A political firestorm is growing in Florida over a leaked grand jury report about millions of dollars from a Medicaid settlement.

The report, obtained by CBS Miami, found that $10 million from a settlement between the state and a Medicaid vendor was sent to the Hope Florida Foundation, a welfare assistance program founded by First Lady Casey DeSantis. That money eventually ended up with political committees that pushed the governor's agenda.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, along with the attorney general, is calling this report a hoax. DeSantis said everything his administration did with those funds was completely above board and legal.

According to the grand jury report, $10 million was sent directly to the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit started by First Lady Casey DeSantis. $5 million of that went to an organization called Secure Florida's Future, and $5 million to another one called Save Our Society From Drugs.

Those two organizations then allegedly sent a combined $8.5 million to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee chaired by Attorney General James Uthmeier, who at the time was DeSantis' chief of staff. The grand jury is said to have found that money ultimately flowed into political activity, including efforts to defeat Amendment 3, the 2024 ballot measure that would have legalized recreational marijuana in Florida.

The grand jury found this to be a misappropriation of funds but did not find sufficient probable cause to bring criminal charges against anyone. DeSantis completely disagrees with that finding, saying there was a crime here but not one committed by his administration.

"The only crime that was apparent was with whoever leaked the grand jury report," DeSantis said. "The settlement that AHCA did was legally sound. It was appropriate, and it advanced the interests of the state."

Democrats are calling for the resignations of Uthmeier and former State Attorney General Ashley Moody, who the grand jury claims was aware of the plans. Uthmeier said there is no wrongdoing and calls it a hoax.

The grand jury is recommending changes to how the state handles settlement money and oversight.