Florida grand jury: DeSantis administration 'misappropriated' $10m from Medicaid settlement

A Florida grand jury has concluded that Governor Ron DeSantis's administration "misappropriated" $10 million in taxpayer funds. The money originated from a Medicaid settlement and was allegedly funneled through the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity linked to DeSantis's wife, Casey DeSantis, before being directed to two political action committees.

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we conclude that these funds were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities

The grand jury report, obtained by CBS News Miami, states that the jurors found "insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally." However, they determined that the funds "were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities." The report highlights a lack of accountability, noting that "nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida."

Jurors emphasized that "this decision was the original misappropriation, and no witness would take responsibility for making the decision or had any memory of who made it." They concluded, "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."

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insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally

Governor DeSantis dismissed the report, calling the only apparent crime "whoever leaked the grand jury report." He defended the settlement as "legally sound" and "appropriate," asserting that "there was no diversion of any Medicaid funds." DeSantis also suggested the report was an attempt to smear his wife, stating she "wasn’t involved in anything."

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nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida

The grand jury report also noted that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was DeSantis's chief of staff at the time, was in a "position of authority over those involved in settling with Centene" and testimony suggested his "involvement in directing the money after it went to Hope Florida."

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this decision was the original misappropriation, and no witness would take responsibility for making the decision or had any memory of who made it