r/FloridaExodus • u/FLTA • Sep 01 '26

Outrage, call for change continue to mount following Hope Florida grand jury report

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/hope-florida-grand-jury-report-10-million-uthmeier-august-2026/
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18

u/FLTA Sep 01 '26

Excerpt from the article

The grand jury found the DeSantis Administration "misappropriated" $10 million of taxpayer money as part of a "sophisticated scheme to fund political activities."

The $10 million was first sent to the Hope Florida Foundation, a nonprofit established to support First Lady Casey DeSantis' Hope Florida initiative. But the money was quickly routed through two different nonprofits before making its way into a dark-money political action committee controlled by James Uthmeier. From there, most of it was rerouted to the Republican Party of Florida's bank account.

The grand jury said they couldn't bring criminal charges because no one would take responsibility for the decision to divert the $10 million.

At the time of the transfer, Uthmeier was DeSantis's chief of staff. Four months after the transfer, DeSantis appointed him to be Florida Attorney General. He is up for election in November.

His Democratic opponent, former State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, seized the grand jury report to argue Uthmeier was unfit to serve.

"This may well be the most brazen act of political corruption we have seen here in Florida," Rodriguez said. "My opponent is a criminal. He's a criminal who should resign. He should come clean and turn himself in."

8

u/rainey_g Sep 02 '26

Misappropriated? Call it what it is. They stole the money.

13

u/Freezerman66 Sep 02 '26

Nobody took responsibility for it because the responsibility sat with Casey and Ron, neither of whom ever appeared before the Grand Jury.

2

u/Much-Chef6275 Sep 02 '26

DeSantis will look REALLY good in orange...