1. United States
2. Fla.
3. Letter

Return the $10 Million to Florida Taxpayers A Florida grand jury has found that Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration misappropriated $10 million in taxpayer money from a Medicaid settlement and diverted it to the Hope Florida Foundation. Those funds were subsequently routed through other organizations and ultimately used for political purposes. That money belonged to the people of Florida. It was not campaign money. It was not a political slush fund. It was taxpayer money arising from a settlement involving Florida’s Medicaid program and children’s health care. Whether or not prosecutors were able to establish sufficient evidence to charge a specific individual criminally does not erase the grand jury’s finding that the money was misappropriated. Florida taxpayers deserve to be made whole. I am calling on Governor Ron DeSantis, his administration, and the Florida Legislature to take immediate action to: Restore the full $10 million to the State of Florida and its taxpayers. Determine which individuals, organizations, or political committees that received or directed these funds are responsible for repayment. Provide a complete public accounting of where every dollar went. Enact safeguards preventing taxpayer settlements from being diverted to nonprofit organizations or political activities without legislative oversight. Public officials are entrusted with taxpayer money. That trust requires accountability regardless of political party. If $10 million in public money was misappropriated, the answer cannot simply be that no one will be criminally charged. Give the money back. Florida taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize anyone’s political agenda.