State prosecutors have open criminal investigation relating to Hope Florida

[Jose Garcia]

Source: Tampa Bay Times

TALLAHASSEE — Leon County prosecutors say there is an open criminal investigation relating to information a lawmaker provided concerning the Hope Florida Foundation.

In response to a request by the Times/Herald for Hope Florida Foundation-related records that prosecutors received from state Rep. Alex Andrade, the records custodian for State Attorney Jack Campbell said the information couldn’t be released because it was “part of an open, on-going investigation.”

The response is the first confirmation of any law enforcement investigation related to the foundation, which was set up to support the Hope Florida program championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife, first lady Casey DeSantis.

Earlier this year, House Republicans alleged that the DeSantis administration illegally diverted $10 million from a settlement with a Medicaid contractor to a political committee controlled by the governor’s then-chief of staff.

Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2025/05/20/hope-florida-foundation-desantis-jack-campbell-state-attorney-investigation-medicaid/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKZnLZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHkl_XrP_56GL9rR0LwjfmRgsDM7QFyyMkFVzaqP2NCmYTdB7ki50rUnKx00R_aem_ABx6na8PVNIpiv254n9DgA

[BoRaGard]

1. Newspaper made a typo. It's "Dope Florida" (R)

Typical republicon grift

[Zorro]

2. James Uthmeier was DeSantis' Chief of Staff

James Uthmeier directed the $10M to be sent to Hope Florida.

James Uthmeier is now Florida's Attorney General.

James Uthmeier no doubt takes lessons from Ken Paxton.

I have serious reservations whether this criminal investigation will go anywhere -- although I will be pleasantly surprised if it does.

[Jose Garcia]

3. This investigation is being done by a local prosecutor

That local prosecutor is a Democrat. He operates independently of the state's Attorney General.