Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office sharply criticized what it described as the unauthorized release of a grand jury investigation report tied to the Hope Florida scandal.
At the same time, Senate Democrats argued that the revelations highlight the need for changes to state law to curb corruption.
Within hours of CBS News Miami reporting on what it said were details from a sealed grand jury report, spokespeople for DeSantis condemned the disclosure.
“This baseless smear has been debunked over and over again,” posted Alex Lanfranconi, communications director for DeSantis’ office. “In fact, if any confidential grand jury report was leaked to the press, that’s the only crime committed here.”
Typically, grand jury reports are made public once investigations conclude, unless someone named in the report objects to its release.
According to the report, the grand jury determined that $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was diverted to campaigns opposing two Florida ballot measures, and labeled the funds as ‘misappropriated.’ However, the report did not recommend criminal charges, noting that no individual would take responsibility for directing the taxpayer money to Hope Florida.
The findings have led critics of both DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier — who served as the Governor’s Chief of Staff during the period in question—to call for reforms to state law. Senate Democratic Caucus leader Tracie Davis said she intends to file legislation to close any gaps that could limit accountability.
“This is an egregious abuse of power from our executive branch, and the fact that nobody has been held accountable is a disgrace,” Davis said. “The report asked the Legislature to make sure that our laws are strong enough to prevent corruption and ensure transparency of public funds. To that end, I plan to file legislation in the upcoming Legislative Session to prevent this type of outrageous abuse from ever happening again.”
DeSantis, who is term-limited, is not running for another term. Uthmeier, whom DeSantis appointed as Attorney General last year, is seeking a full term in November. The investigation into the Hope Florida scandal has fueled ongoing tensions between the executive branch and the Florida House throughout the past two Legislative Sessions.
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