Grand jury finds DeSantis administration “misappropriated” $10 million in taxpayer money to Hope Florida
Grand Jury Exposes $10M Florida Diversion
Bizeconanalysis.com – A sealed report filed in Leon County on January 28 delivers what amounts to a formal indictment of the DeSantis administration’s handling of a ten-million-dollar Medicaid settlement. The grand jury concluded that the state “misappropriated” funds originally designated to buy health insurance for low-income children and instead funneled them through a web of intermediary groups before they landed in two political action committees and the Republican Party of Florida. Those dollars were then spent in 2024 to defeat Amendment 3, the ballot measure that would have legalized marijuana statewide.
The panel’s language goes well beyond a bookkeeping slip. It described the transfer as “part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities,” a phrasing that signals deliberate orchestration. Yet the same body stopped short of recommending criminal prosecution, ruling that the evidence could not pin the decision on a single identifiable individual.
“Despite our finding that the money was misappropriated, we find insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally. Nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida… or had any memory of who made it.”
How the Money Moved
Florida Medicaid settlements typically arise when the state resolves disputes with providers or insurers over unpaid claims, and the proceeds are statutorily directed toward expanding coverage for uninsured children. In this instance, the grand jury found the ten-million-dollar payout was “hastily passed through multiple organizations” before reaching political accounts. The final recipients included the Republican Party of Florida and two PACs, one of which belonged to the state’s current attorney general.
The report identifies James Uthmeier, who served as Governor Ron DeSantis’s chief of staff when the settlement was executed, as the central figure around whom the activity coalesced. Testimony placed Uthmeier in the position of directing the flow of money after it reached the Hope Florida Foundation. His own PAC, Keep Florida Clean, was named the “prime recipient of the majority of the $10 million taxpayer funds.”
“We find that James Uthmeier, as the Governor’s Chief of Staff at the time of settlement, was in a position of authority over those involved in settling… Testimony identified him as having involvement in directing the money after it went to Hope Florida.”
Former Officials and Their Responses
Ashley Moody, who held the attorney general’s office when the settlement was signed, is described as having been aware of the plan to route the money to Hope Florida. She “authorized” her former chief deputy, John Guard, to execute the agreement. The panel noted that Guard signed the document “without conducting his due diligence to ensure the proper appropriation of taxpayer funds.”
Guard, whom DeSantis elevated to the Florida state appeals court in January, responded in writing that departmental participation in settlements was routine and that this matter was “handled in the ordinary course by the Department.” He declined further comment, citing his new judicial role.
“As a sitting judge, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on past or ongoing court proceedings. Even if I weren’t a sitting judge, to the extent that there was a grand jury, Florida law also makes it unlawful to disclose such proceedings.”
Moody, appointed to the U.S. Senate by DeSantis in 2025 and now facing a November election, has declined repeated requests for comment. DeSantis himself has largely avoided the topic in public. At a Wednesday news conference, when pressed on what he knew about the diversion, he stated:
“I wasn’t involved in the settlement agreement, but I’m very happy with how everything was done.”
He went on to characterize the controversy as a “hoax.” Notably, neither DeSantis, Moody, nor Uthmeier was called to testify before the Tallahassee panel.
Seven Months of Sealed Silence
The report’s existence has become a political flashpoint of its own. Democratic officials have pressed for public release, while Republican leaders have refused to acknowledge that a grand jury report was ever filed. One source familiar with the investigation told reporters that multiple individuals named in the document have lobbied privately to keep the document sealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did the grand jury find? The panel determined that ten million dollars from a Medicaid settlement were misappropriated and routed through intermediary organizations to fund Republican political operations, including the 2024 campaign against Amendment 3. It did not recommend criminal charges against any specific individual.
Who was named in the report? James Uthmeier (Governor’s former chief of staff), Ashley Moody (former attorney general, now U.S. senator), and John Guard (former chief deputy AG, now state appeals court judge) were all identified. Their respective PACs and the Republican Party of Florida were named as recipients.
Why hasn’t the report been made public? Florida law generally keeps grand jury proceedings sealed. Republican leaders have declined to confirm the report’s existence, while Democrats have called for its release. The document was filed in Leon County on January 28.
What happens next? No criminal charges have been recommended. Moody faces a November election, Guard sits on the state appeals court, and the political fallout continues as both parties debate whether the sealed report should be unsealed.