A Florida grand jury concluded that $10 million in taxpayer money was misappropriated through a foundation tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis, with $8.5 million ultimately going to a political committee that fought a 2024 ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana.
The findings are contained in a sealed grand jury report obtained by CBS News Miami and first reported Wednesday. The grand jury examined $10 million from a $67 million settlement between Florida and Centene Corp., stemming from overbilling involving the state’s health insurance program for low-income children.
According to the report, state officials altered the settlement shortly before the November 2024 election so that $57 million would return directly to the state while $10 million would go to the Hope Florida Foundation. The grand jury described the transfer as part of a “sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.”
Hope Florida subsequently distributed the entire $10 million through two $5 million grants to Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society From Drugs. Within days, the organizations transferred a combined $8.5 million to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee involved in the campaign against Amendment 3.
Keep Florida Clean then transferred $7 million to the Republican Party of Florida and $1.23 million to the Florida Freedom Fund, another political committee. The grand jury found that the two nonprofit grant applications had mischaracterized how the money would be used, including representations that the funds would not be used for political purposes.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who was Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff at the time, was identified by the grand jury as being in a position of authority over those involved in the settlement and as having involvement in directing the money after it reached Hope Florida. Keep Florida Clean received the majority of the $10 million.
Despite its findings, the grand jury determined that the evidence was insufficient to bring criminal charges against anyone.
“Despite our finding that the money was misappropriated, we find insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally,” the report states.
DeSantis, who was not called to testify before the grand jury, said Wednesday that he was not involved in the settlement agreement and continued to characterize allegations surrounding Hope Florida as a hoax. Uthmeier and then-Attorney General Ashley Moody also were not called to testify.
Amendment 3 would have legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. It received 55.9% support in November 2024, but failed because Florida constitutional amendments require at least 60% approval.
