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Jury Finds DeSantis Aides Diverted $10M Medicaid Settlement

8/30/2026

Left

DeSantis Misuses Funds

A jury report in January 2026 found Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted $10 million from Medicaid settlement to Hope Florida Foundation.
Funds were meant to reimburse Medicaid services for poor, sick children, highlighting a breach of trust.
The grand jury said the $10 million was misappropriated in a scheme to fund politics.
Report urged legislature to deposit state funds into General Revenue and tighten monitoring.

Right

DeSantis Diverts Money

A Florida jury report January 2026 found Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation.
DeSantis and allies denounced the report as a hoax, asserting the leak, not the transfer, was the wrongdoing.
Attorney General James Uthmeier called the investigation a witch hunt, noting no probable cause.
Ashley Moody authorized deputy John Guard to sign the settlement sending $10 million to Hope Florida.

Center

DeSantis Diverts Funds

A jury report released in January 2026 found Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to Hope Florida Foundation.
The $10 million was split into two $5 million grants that went to committees chaired by James Uthmeier, which spent it opposing Amendment 3, a marijuana-legalization measure.
The grand jury said evidence was insufficient for criminal charges.
Democratic candidate David Jolly, state senators and other officials demanded investigations, resignations and legislative reforms.

Blindspot

Forensic accounting traced the $10 million to two $5 million grants to the nonprofits Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society from Drugs, which were transferred to political committees chaired by former chief of staff James Uthmeier and used to oppose Amendment 3, the 2024 marijuana-legalization measure.
Within these sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

September 2024 saw Florida settle a $67 million Medicaid overbilling case with Centene, directing $10 million to the Hope Florida Foundation created by First Lady Casey DeSantis. 2025 investigations showed the foundation routed the $10 million through two nonprofits to the Keep Florida Clean PAC tied to Governor Ron DeSantis’s chief of staff James Uthmeier. A 2026 grand jury indictment renewed calls for tighter Medicaid oversight.

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DeSantis Misuses Funds

A jury report in January 2026 found Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration diverted $10 million from Medicaid settlement to Hope Florida Foundation.
Funds were meant to reimburse Medicaid services for poor, sick children, highlighting a breach of trust.
The grand jury said the $10 million was misappropriated in a scheme to fund politics.
Report urged legislature to deposit state funds into General Revenue and tighten monitoring.

1 / 5