08/31/2026
On Wednesday, a Grand Jury report found that $10 million of Florida taxpayers’ money, originally part of a Medicaid settlement, was instead re-routed to Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida Foundation. The money ultimately ended up in bank accounts linked to Republican party political action committees.
The Grand Jury found that both Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, then the Governor’s Chief of Staff, and U.S. Senator Ashley Moody, then the Florida Attorney General, were not only aware of the cash diversion but authorized it.
The money stems from a larger $67 million settlement from health care giant Centene to the state of Florida. However, the report states that under AG Moody’s orchestration, Centene was directed to send $10 million to Hope Florida.
Centene objected, with its lawyers stating they wanted written proof that the company “was being directed by the Florida attorney general” to divert the money.
According to CBS, “Moody did not want to be held responsible” for the shady diversion.
Under questioning from the Grand Jury, Moody’s then-deputy chief of staff John Guard testified that he also had reservations about the diversion.
Due to his concerns, the directive to Centene came not from Moody’s office - despite her orchestration and authorization - but from Gov. DeSantis’ Agency for Health Care Administration.
After the $10 million was transferred to the Hope Florida foundation, Chairman Joshua Hay testified that he received two $5 million grant proposals.
Those proposals were choreographed by Uthmeier, who told the executive directors of the PACs “Save our Society from Drugs” and “Secure Florida’s Future” to each apply for a $5 million grant. Both of the grants were approved by Hope Florida.
Of that $10 million given to the two PACs, $8.5 million was then directly donated to Uthmeier’s own PAC - “Keep Florida Clean.” From there, Uthmeier gave $7 million to the Republican Party of Florida and $1.23 million to another of his PACs - “Florida Freedom Fund.” Much of that money was used in advertising against the Florida ma*****na legalization campaign in 2024.
Florida, our state government doesn’t have to be corrupt.
In November, both Moody and Uthmeier are up for election, and the Democratic Party has qualified candidates running to represent you. Candidates that will work to put more money in your pockets, not their own. It’s time to see what actual leadership looks like.
