A Florida grand jury concluded that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer money, diverting it to a charity connected to his wife and later used for political purposes. However, the grand jury declined to file criminal charges due to a lack of evidence to identify who was specifically responsible.
The secret grand jury report, obtained and published by CBS News Miami, investigated Hope Florida, a charity founded in 2021 by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. The report, completed in January, detailed how the $10 million, originally from a state Medicaid settlement intended for children's healthcare, was instead directed to political action committees. These PACs subsequently used the funds to oppose a 2024 statewide ballot measure that sought to legalize recreational marijuana.
DeSantis opposed the marijuana legalization measure, which ultimately failed to secure the 60% supermajority required for passage in Florida. The grand jury noted in its report that "no one would take responsibility for sending the money to the charity or had any memory of who did," calling this an "impediment to criminal prosecution."
Despite the lack of criminal charges, the grand jury stated, "While we can’t prove who is responsible, we can plainly see that taxpayer money was misused for political purposes and we would like to see changes made to prevent this from happening again."
The report identified James Uthmeier, DeSantis' chief of staff at the time, as being "in a position of authority over those involved in settling." His Keep Florida Clean PAC was reportedly the primary recipient of the $10 million. The grand jury also indicated that then-state Attorney General Ashley Moody's office was aware of the plans to divert the funds.
Uthmeier, who is seeking reelection, suggested that Democrats were behind the leak of the grand jury report and characterized the renewed attention as a "politically motivated hoax." Moody, now running for the U.S. Senate, stated on social media that her office was one of several agencies that approved the initial settlement but had "no knowledge of how funds would be spent" by Hope Florida or other groups.
David Jolly, the Democratic nominee for governor, has called for the grand jury probe to be reopened. DeSantis, prohibited by Florida law from seeking a third gubernatorial term, has not disputed the report's authenticity but insisted that no laws were broken. He also stated that those responsible for leaking the sealed documents would face consequences.