Donalds Addresses Hope Florida Grand Jury Report During Hillsborough Campaign Stop
Donalds says Florida’s Hope Florida spending has already been reviewed, while a grand jury report found $10 million in taxpayer money was misused for politics.
- Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds rejected calls Monday for a new investigation into the Hope Florida Foundation, focusing instead on unifying with Gov. Ron DeSantis at a Tuesday Tampa event.
- A Leon County grand jury report found the administration "misappropriated" $10 million from a $67 million Medicaid settlement with Centene, directing funds to the Hope Florida Foundation before they reached a political committee.
- Within days, the charity distributed cash to two nonprofits, which donated most funds to an anti-marijuana committee run by James Uthmeier; the administration separately diverted at least $35 million in taxpayer money to political causes last year.
- Sen. Don Gaetz plans to file "comprehensive" legislation addressing the jury's recommendations, while Speaker Designate Sam Garrison stated the Florida House is ready to strengthen laws ensuring elected representatives retain the power of the purse.
- Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly urged the Legislature to address the problem immediately, as lawmakers prepare for the next regular legislative session scheduled to begin March 2, 2026.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Hanford Sentinel
union-bulletin.comWill lawmakers act on Hope Florida grand jury’s call for change? Maybe
TALLAHASSEE — Florida lawmakers may answer a grand jury’s call to change state law after the jurors found that Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration misused $10 million in taxpayer dollars. The leaked grand jury report, first obtained by CBS Miami, didn’t…
Tampa Bay Times
Lancaster FarmingUnder Hope Florida cloud, DeSantis to host forum with Uthmeier, Donalds
Days after the Hope Florida grand jury report was leaked, DeSantis will ask the state’s leading Republican candidates about pressing issues in the election.
Sun-Sentinel
Orlando SentinelDonalds dismisses Jolly’s call for new Hope Florida investigation as ‘politics’
Byron Donalds told reporters on Saturday that a Hope Florida probe into DeSantis is not an issue on voters’ minds as they prepare to elect a new governor in November.
Florida Grand Jury Found Desantis’ Administration “Misappropriated” $10M in Taxpayer Money but Declined to File Charges Due to Lack of Evidence
A Florida grand jury found that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration “misappropriated” $10 million in taxpayer money it diverted to a charity connected to his wife, but it declined to file criminal charges due to a lack of evidence indicating who specifically was responsible. DeSantis on Thursday did not dispute the legitimacy of the secret grand jury report obtained and published online by CBS News Miami, but he insisted no laws were br…
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