Republican lawmakers in Florida are investigating how $10 million in state cash was diverted to be used in a political marketing campaign with ties to the spouse of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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MIAMI — Fla. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is on the defensive over questions on how $10 million in state cash got here for use to fund a political marketing campaign.
In two phrases as governor, DeSantis has loved sturdy assist from the Republican-controlled legislature. However now, Republicans within the state Home of Representatives say the alleged misuse of funds could warrant a legal investigation.
The allegations contain $10 million that was paid to Florida by Centene, an organization that gives managed care to Medicaid recipients. The cash was a part of a $67 million settlement by the corporate after it was charged with overbilling taxpayers for drugs. Ten million {dollars} of the settlement was paid on to a non-profit group, Hope Florida. That is a charity based by Gov. DeSantis’ spouse, Casey, to assist folks transfer off authorities help into community-based applications.
An investigation by state lawmakers discovered that after receiving it, Hope Florida transferred the $10 million to 2 “darkish cash” political teams — teams that are not required to reveal their donors. The 2 teams then despatched some $8.5 million to a political committee that was campaigning in opposition to an modification to legalize leisure marijuana within the state. It was a gaggle managed by DeSantis’ then-chief of workers, now Florida Legal professional Common James Uthmeier.
Republican lawmakers, together with Rep. Alex Andrade, say they consider that transaction was unlawful.
At a listening to of the Well being Care Subcommittee in Florida’s Home of Representatives, Andrade mentioned, “There is not any query that these had been Medicaid funds, steered by the Governor’s chief of workers by means of secret and clandestine actions to his personal political committee.”
The investigation within the Florida Home did not goal DeSantis instantly. However the political marketing campaign to defeat the marijuana initiative — which efficiently scuttled the modification — was led by DeSantis. Since these allegations, DeSantis has denied any wrongdoing by his administration. He is fought again in a sequence of reports conferences the place he is attacked the information media and Republican lawmakers.
“The entire thing that the Home management is doing is a manufactured fraud,” DeSantis mentioned at a latest look in Fort Myers. “It is a hoax. They’re attempting to smear probably the most profitable applications wherever within the nation.”
Among the many many points lawmakers are offended about is that the DeSantis administration did not inform Florida’s Legislature concerning the $67 million settlement or concerning the $10 million that went on to a charity overseen by DeSantis’ spouse. The investigation is essentially the most seen indication of a rising rift between DeSantis and Republican leaders within the legislature. State Home Speaker Daniel Perez not too long ago responded to the governor’s assault, calling it “a mood tantrum,” saying “the Home is not going to be bullied.”
The opposite state official on the middle of those allegations is Florida’s lawyer common, James Uthmeier.
In keeping with the Home investigation, Uthmeier was the one that initiated the plan to divert a number of the settlement cash to teams campaigning in opposition to the marijuana referendum. On the time, he was DeSantis’ chief of workers. In February, months after these occasions occurred, DeSantis appointed Uthmeier lawyer common to interchange Ashley Moody. DeSantis named Moody to the U.S. Senate to fill out Marco Rubio’s time period after Rubio was appointed Secretary of State by President Trump.
Uthmeier denies the allegations that he was the mastermind behind the deal. “I used to be not concerned within the settlement negotiations associated to the Hope Florida contribution,” he says. ” it, all the pieces appears authorized.”
Casey DeSantis, the spouse of Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis, based a non-profit charity in 2021 to assist folks transfer from authorities help into community-based applications. The charity, Hope Florida, acquired $10 million by means of a state settlement with Florida’s largest Medicaid contractor.
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Uthmeier says the $10 million that went to the “darkish cash” teams wasn’t Medicaid cash. He is referred to as it a “sweetener” — cash added by Centene on prime of the bigger Medicaid settlement. Consultant Andrade says that is a legalistic argument and he is not shopping for it. “Ten million {dollars} is some huge cash,” he says. “In the actual world, if somebody defrauded the state or a charity of ten million {dollars}, they’d go to jail.”
Andrade says he is concluded his investigation and it is as much as federal prosecutors to resolve whether or not to pursue legal fees. He is says he is spoken to the Division of Justice. The U.S. Legal professional in Florida’s Northern District declined to remark.
Even when there aren’t any legal fees, one particular person marked by this investigation is Casey DeSantis. She’s been making appearances across the state along with her husband and seems to be getting ready her personal bid to run for governor. President Trump has already endorsed a candidate within the race, Republican Congressman Byron Donalds.
