A Florida grand jury found the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) “misappropriated” taxpayer funds when it diverted $10 million from a Medicaid settlement into the Hope Florida Foundation, which ultimately sent the funds to two political action committees and the Republican Party of Florida, which used them to oppose the 2024 citizen-led initiative to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, CBS News Miami reports. The ballot measure, a constitutional amendment that required 60% of voter support to pass, was ultimately defeated 56% in favor to 44% opposed.
According to the grand jury report, which is under seal but was obtained by CBS News Miami, $57 million of the settlement funds were sent to the state and meant to be used to provide health insurance for poor children, while a $10 million “donation” was sent directly to Hope Florida – an organization championed by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. According to the report, Mark Wilson, executive director of Secure Florida’s Future, received a tip directing him to apply for a $5 million grant from Hope Florida to benefit his organization. Days later, James Uthmeier – former general counsel to the governor and the state’s current attorney general – advised Amy Ronshausen, executive director for Save Our Society from Drugs, to apply for the same $5 million grant from Hope Florida.
Both Secure Florida’s Future and Save our Society from Drugs then funneled the money to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee chaired by Uthmeier, which used the funds to oppose the adult-use ballot question, the report says.
According to the Secure Florida’s Future grant application reviewed by the grand jury, the intended use for the funds was to “raise awareness of Hope Florida’s efforts within the private sector utilizing a data-centric approach” and “recruit[ing] business community partners to advance this necessary cause.” The application states that Secure Florida’s Future does not and will not engage in political activities and does not spend funds on elections.
According to the grand jury report, the Hope Florida Grant was “the only grant of its kind the organization [had] received” during the tenure of Ronshausen with Save Our Society from Drugs, which began in 2018. The organization’s application to Hope Florida claimed it would use the funds to “[prevent] drug use, [increase] access to care, and [promote] recovery for individuals and families throughout Florida.” The application also stated that the organization did not spend funds on elections or engage in political activities and that the funds were not “designated or solicited for any third-party entity.” Within a week, $4.75 million was disbursed to Keep Florida Clean.
The grand jury also concluded that Ashley Moody, who was the Florida attorney general at the time, was aware of the plans to divert the $10 million to Hope Florida and “authorized” her former chief deputy, John Guard, to sign the settlement agreement.
Gov. DeSantis said during a press conference that he “wasn’t involved in the settlement agreement,” but is “very happy with how everything was done.”
He also referred to the story as a “hoax.”
“Despite our finding that the money was misappropriated, we find insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally,” the report concluded. “Nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida… or had any memory of who made it.”
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