Florida Govt. Reportedly Sent $10 Million In Medicaid Money To Charity Overseen By Ron DeSantis' Wife

Maybe we need Michael Cohen to step in.

This story has been burbling along for a bit, so I'm glad it's now a thread. Phrases like "money laundering" have been waved around by even GOP politicians in Florida.

After receiving the money from Centene — the state's largest Medicaid managed-care provider — last fall, the foundation made $5 million grants each to Secure Florida's Future, a nonprofit organization linked to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Save Our Society from Drugs.

The groups received the grants while they were making contributions to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee headed by James Uthmeier, who was then Gov. Ron DeSantis' chief of staff and is now state attorney general. Keep Florida Clean fought a proposed constitutional amendment in November that would have allowed recreational use of marijuana. [that DeSantis opposed]

Tuesday's hearing was the latest in which House Health Care Budget Chairman Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, has challenged members of the DeSantis administration about the foundation's alleged lack of transparency about the $10 million settlement and subsequent grants.

Andrade, who took the unusual step of requiring Hay to testify under oath, accused Uthmeier of funneling the money from the Medicaid settlement through the foundation to help pay for the effort to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 3. Andrade said Uthmeier's actions may have been illegal.

"This is looking more and more like a conspiracy to use Medicaid money to pay for campaign activity," Andrade told reporters after Tuesday's meeting.

Rep. Andrade accuses Florida AG Uthmeier of money laundering, wire fraud amid Hope Florida probe​

and of course...

Controversial DeSantis-Linked Charity’s Zoom Meeting Hijacked by Porn and Nazis​

In the latest turn in the story of the charity-turned-trainwreck, a virtual board meeting for the DeSantis-backed organization was derailed by trolls who flooded the Zoom call with porn and Nazi symbols, according to a report from the Tallahassee Democrat.

A developing political scandal in Florida has Gov. Ron DeSantis on the defensive​

Since these allegations, DeSantis has denied any wrongdoing by his administration. He's fought back in a series of news conferences where he's attacked the news media and Republican lawmakers.

"The whole thing that the House leadership is doing is a manufactured fraud," DeSantis said at a recent appearance in Fort Myers. "This is a hoax. They are trying to smear one of the most successful programs anywhere in the country."

Among the many issues lawmakers are angry about is that the DeSantis administration didn't tell Florida's Legislature about the $67 million settlement or about the $10 million that went directly to a charity overseen by DeSantis' wife. The investigation is the most visible indication of a growing rift between DeSantis and Republican leaders in the legislature. State House Speaker Daniel Perez recently responded to the governor's attack, calling it "a temper tantrum," saying "the House will not be bullied."

Uthmeier says the $10 million that went to the "dark money" groups wasn't Medicaid money. He's called it a "sweetener" — money added by Centene on top of the larger Medicaid settlement. Representative Andrade says that's a legalistic argument and he isn't buying it. "Ten million dollars is a lot of money," he says. "In the real world, if someone defrauded the state or a charity of ten million dollars, they would go to prison."

Andrade says he's concluded his investigation and it's up to federal prosecutors to decide whether to pursue criminal charges.

essentialsaltes said:

Andrade says he's concluded his investigation and it's up to federal prosecutors to decide whether to pursue criminal charges.

Click to expand...

On one hand, Trump-Bondi seem disinclined to any serious prosecutions outside of those involving undocumented immigrants and retaliation against political enemies, but on the other, at any given moment, De Santis could be perceived as such.

essentialsaltes said:

Andrade says he's concluded his investigation and it's up to federal prosecutors to decide whether to pursue criminal charges.

Click to expand...

What is Hope Florida? Why Casey DeSantis-connected charity is reportedly under investigation​

The battle over Hope Florida, a project spearheaded by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, kicked into a new gear with news that a criminal investigation may have been opened into a $10 million "donation" from a Medicaid settlement that was then sent to a political committee to fight a constitutional amendment that her husband, Gov. Ron DeSantis, didn't like.

Andrade confirmed that he turned over documents his committee gathered to the State Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice.

"It's always premature to overreact to an investigation because one result of an investigation is that no criminal charges are brought. So when I stopped having hearings, I sent everything I had over to the State Attorney's Office and the Department of Justice"

And it looks like it's being taken up.

Florida agency tells newspaper to halt reporting angle on foundation associated with governor’s wife​

The Orlando Sentinel received the letter on Friday from the state Department of Children and Families, whose top official is appointed by the governor.

How about 'no'?

Why is the Florida GOP trying to restrict freedom of the press?

NxNW said:

Why is the Florida GOP trying to restrict freedom of the press?

Click to expand...

Allegedly, the paper threatened and harassed people to say bad things about the nonprofit.

The IbanezerScrooge said:

These groups later transferred $8.5 million to a political committee tied to DeSantis' then Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, now the state attorney general.

Click to expand...

Sounds like someone could use a distraction!

Florida's GOP Attorney General Urges Deportation of Democratic Lawmaker Ilhan Omar​

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has called to "denaturalize and deport" Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar after she made critical remarks about President Donald Trump and the trajectory of the United States.

essentialsaltes said:

Sounds like someone could use a distraction!

Florida's GOP Attorney General Urges Deportation of Democratic Lawmaker Ilhan Omar​

Click to expand...

Quick, look over there!

Florida Attorney General Proposes New ICE Detention Center Surrounded by Alligators​

essentialsaltes said:

Quick, look over there!

Florida Attorney General Proposes New ICE Detention Center Surrounded by Alligators​

Click to expand...

Wow, he’s got a lot of free time on his hands!

essentialsaltes said:

Quick, look over there!

Florida Attorney General Proposes New ICE Detention Center Surrounded by Alligators​

Click to expand...

FEMA concentration camps are back on the menu!

Florida to receive federal funds to build immigration detention sites, including "Alligator Alcatraz," Noem says​

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Monday the federal government will fund an effort by Florida to set up immigration detention centers, which include a proposed site in the Everglades that state officials have dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz."

Noem said the detention facilities in Florida will be funded "in large part" by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's shelter and services program

essentialsaltes said:

Quick, look over there!

Florida Attorney General Proposes New ICE Detention Center Surrounded by Alligators​

Click to expand...

They need sharks with "laser" beams, or they're just playing around.