Florida Grand Jury Finds $10 Million Misappropriated for Political Use

A Florida grand jury has found that $10 million in taxpayer money from a Medicaid settlement was misappropriated and used for political purposes, but concluded there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges. The report, first obtained by CBS News Miami, details a complex money trail that began with a settlement involving healthcare contractor Centene Corporation and ended with funds flowing to political committees opposing a 2024 ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana.

The grand jury's investigation centered on how $10 million from a $67 million settlement with Centene, which had overbilled the state for prescription drugs under Florida's Healthy Kids Program, was directed to the Hope Florida Foundation. The foundation was created in 2021 by Casey DeSantis, the governor's wife, with the stated mission of connecting Floridians to private-sector and community resources. According to the report, government officials changed the settlement agreement in September 2024 to steer the $10 million away from state coffers and to the foundation.

The grand jury found that the money was then quickly disbursed. Two nonprofits, Secure Florida's Future and Save Our...