A Florida grand jury has found that Governor Ron DeSantis's administration misappropriated $10 million in taxpayer money from a Medicaid settlement by transferring it to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity linked to DeSantis's wife, Casey DeSantis. The funds were reportedly funneled into two political action committees and used to lobby against a marijuana legalization ballot measure and support the Republican Party of Florida.

The grand jury report, dated January 28, 2026, states that the Hope Florida Foundation received the $10 million in 2024 from a Medicaid settlement between the state and Centene, a government contractor for low-income health insurance. The jurors described the diversion of funds as part of a "sophisticated scheme to fund political activities" but declined to indict anyone, citing insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

The report also notes that no one took responsibility for the decision to allocate the settlement money to Hope Florida, calling that decision the "original misappropriation."

Governor DeSantis responded by saying the only apparent crime was the leak of the grand jury report and denied any involvement by his wife, stating, "She wasn’t involved in any of this." The report mentions Casey DeSantis only once, referring to Hope Florida as an initiative "championed by the First Lady of Florida."

Additionally, the grand jury found that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was DeSantis's chief of staff at the time and is running for election, held a position of authority over those involved in the settlement and was involved in directing the funds after they went to Hope Florida.

A spokesperson for Moody, referenced in a statement to the New York Times, said neither the Department of Legal Affairs nor the former attorney general knew how the settlement money would be spent.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly has pledged to reopen an investigation into the matter if elected and challenged Republican nominee Byron Donalds to do the same.

Sources