FLORIDA GRAND JURY FINDS $10M MEDICAID FUNDS MISAPPROPRIATED

A Florida grand jury has found that the administration of Governor Ron DeSantis "misappropriated" $10m in taxpayer money from a Medicaid settlement, according to a report obtained and published by CBS News Miami. The grand jury determined that funds from a settlement between the state and Centene, the state's largest Medicaid contractor, were transferred to the Hope Florida Foundation, a welfare assistance programme founded by Casey DeSantis, before being "quickly funneled" into two political action committees. The grand jury concluded in its report, dated 28 January 2026, that "these funds were misappropriated as part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities". However, the grand jurors found "insufficient evidence to charge anyone criminally" and declined to indict anyone.

In 2024, Hope Florida Foundation received $10m from a $67m Medicaid settlement intended to repay those overbilled for healthcare services for low-income children and sick individuals. According to the grand jury report, the money was transferred to other accounts and eventually reached political action committees, two of which were run by the governor's then-chief of staff. The grand jury stated that the money was used to lobby against a ballot measure that would have legalised cannabis in Florida and was sent to the Republican Party of Florida. In the report, jurors wrote that "nobody will take responsibility for deciding the $10 million of taxpayer money would go to Hope Florida" and that "no witness would take responsibility for making the decision or had any memory of who made it".

DeSantis has denied the findings. On Thursday, he stated that "there was no diversion of any Medicaid funds" and described the settlement as "legally sound" and "appropriate". He characterised the settlement as advancing the interest of the state and said the only apparent crime was "whoever leaked the grand jury report". DeSantis and other officials have previously denied allegations connected to what has been termed the "Hope Florida Scandal" and accused Democrats of mounting a politically motivated effort. Multiple investigations into the matter remain ongoing.