Grand Jury to Investigate Funding of Hope Florida Foundation
TALLAHASSEE, FL – A grand jury has been convened in Tallahassee to investigate financial dealings involving the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis, according to reports Wednesday. The examination centers on a $10 million contribution received by the foundation and its subsequent transfer to a political committee.
The funds originated from a $67 million settlement with Centene, a Medicaid vendor, concerning overpayments to the state. Nearly all of the $10 million donation was then directed to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee formerly led by James Uthmeier, who was then Governor Ron DeSantis’s chief of staff.
Keep Florida Clean spent heavily opposing two proposed constitutional amendments on the 2024 ballot: one to establish abortion rights and another to legalize recreational marijuana.Both amendments ultimately failed to pass. Following the election, DeSantis appointed Uthmeier as Florida’s Attorney General, replacing Ashley Moody, who is now a U.S. Senator.
The Hope Florida Foundation faced earlier scrutiny in 2025 from a Florida House committee led by State Rep. Alex Andrade, a Pensacola Republican, regarding the centene payment.The committee investigated the $10 million as part of the larger $67 million settlement. Andrade did not immediatly respond to a request for comment.
The Hope Florida foundation serves as the fundraising arm for the broader Hope Florida initiative, championed by Casey DeSantis.
Requests for comment are pending with spokespeople for Governor DeSantis,Attorney General Uthmeier,and the Department of Children and Families,which oversees the foundation.The Florida Democratic Party issued a fundraising appeal to supporters following news of the grand jury’s convening.
this is a developing news story and might potentially be updated.
