POLITICS: Democrat State Attorney investigating $10 million payment to Casey DeSantis’s charity – USSA News

Hold onto your hats, folks—there’s a storm brewing in Tallahassee over a hefty $10 million payment tied to First Lady Casey DeSantis’ charity.

Democrat State Attorney Jack Campbell has launched an investigation into funds from a Medicaid settlement that flowed to the Hope Florida Foundation, only to be funneled to a political committee, sparking criticism from Governor Ron DeSantis, who staunchly defends the program’s mission for struggling Floridians.

The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the Hope Florida program was born as a lifeline for low-income Floridians, connecting them to social services via nonprofits and state-employed “Hope navigators.”

Fast forward to 2023, and the Hope Florida Foundation, tied to Casey DeSantis, was set up to fundraise for this initiative. Enter a $57 million settlement with Centene, a Medicaid provider, over overpayments, out of which $10 million was designated as a “donation” to the Foundation.

But here’s where eyebrows raise: the Foundation then handed out two $5 million grants to nonprofits, which funneled $8.5 million to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee run by James Uthmeier, who was then DeSantis’ chief of staff.

Political Funds or Public Good?

Keep Florida Clean used those funds to fight Amendment 3, a ballot measure on recreational marijuana, which critics might call a curious detour for money meant to help the poor.

Now, Uthmeier is Florida’s Attorney General, and his spokesman Jeremy Redfern took to X with a jab, saying, “Looks like more lawfare driven by the fake news media and those politically motivated to hurt Gov. Ron DeSantis.” Lawfare or not, turns out actions have consequences when millions are shuffled around.

State Attorney Campbell, who oversees six counties including Tallahassee, initially denied looking into this last month, but a records custodian recently confirmed an “open, on-going investigation” by withholding related documents.

Governor DeSantis, speaking at a Tampa event, didn’t mince words, declaring, “Everything that’s been thrown at (Hope Florida) is pure politics.” He’s doubling down, insisting the program is a beacon for those in need, and frankly, it’s hard not to admire the passion for helping the downtrodden.

Casey DeSantis herself chimed in at an event, saying, “This is not about politics.” Yet, with whispers of a 2026 gubernatorial run to succeed her husband, a criminal probe could cast a shadow over her ambitions—talk about bad timing.

House Health Care Budget Subcommittee Chair Alex Andrade, a Republican from Pensacola, isn’t holding back either, stating, “I’m convinced that crimes occurred.”

He’s handed over documents to both Campbell’s office and the U.S. Department of Justice, washing his hands of the criminal side but clearly smelling smoke.

Public Corruption Allegations Surface

Andrade went further, alleging public corruption and even pointing fingers at Uthmeier for potential money laundering, though he admits it’s up to law enforcement to act. If that’s not a political hot potato, what is?

Campbell, for his part, plays it cool in an email, noting, “As for (an) investigation, the only source of information I have received is from members of the press.”

While he’s not tipping his hand, the mere existence of this probe—first reported by the Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald—has set tongues wagging across Florida.