DeSantis punches back at Hope Florida controversy, likens 'lawfare' to attacks on Trump and nominees

The bureau of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis punched backmost astatine allegations linking the politician and his wife, Casey DeSantis, to $10 cardinal fixed to the Hope Florida Foundation aft the authorities settled with a government-sponsored healthcare provider. 

"Governor DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis person been taxable to politically motivated lawfare successful the authorities of Florida, and present the aforesaid lawfare is being perpetrated against President Trump and his nominees," Communications Director Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is disputing the allegations. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

"It’s ridiculous and particularly shameful coming from Republicans who hatred to spot others delivering results."

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Centene, a ample aesculapian security supplier that specializes successful government-sponsored programs similar Medicaid and Medicare, returned $67 cardinal successful a colony with the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration implicit claims that Centene was overbilling Medicaid payments. Following the colony successful September 2024, $10 cardinal of the funds were sent to the Hope Florida Foundation.

The $10 cardinal fixed to the Hope Florida Foundation was past divided into 2 abstracted $5 cardinal grants to 501(c)(4) organizations. One went to Save Our Society from Drugs and the different to Secure Florida’s Future, Inc. 

A presumption of the Florida State Capitol gathering connected Nov. 10, 2018, successful Tallahassee, Florida. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)

Subsequently, $8.5 cardinal of those funds were dispersed to Keep Florida Clean, a governmental enactment committee that antecedently targeted Florida Amendment 3, a law amendment to recreationally legalize marijuana. Casey DeSantis has been outspoken against the legalization of marijuana.

A elder authoritative from DeSantis's bureau told Fox News Digital that the Hope Florida Foundation is simply a abstracted entity from the Hope Florida inaugural that has been spearheaded by Casey DeSantis.

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A elder authoritative from DeSantis’ bureau besides told Fox News Digital that determination is nary authoritative probe being conducted by the Leon County State Attorney’s office, despite reports that a grounds custodian successful the authorities attorney’s bureau referred to the substance arsenic "an open, ongoing investigation."

In a May 21 email speech obtained by Fox News Digital, the New York Times corrected a header stating that "Casey DeSantis [Is] Under Investigation" aft a DeSantis authoritative clarified to the work that determination is nary authoritative probe taking place. 

Florida archetypal woman Casey DeSantis. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Florida authorities Republican Rep. Alex Andrade, president of the healthcare appropriations subcommittee, primitively unearthed the funds. Andrade told Fox helium was unaware if determination was an existent ongoing investigation, but added that helium had a "long speech with the [Department of Justice]" astir documents and communications related to the question of funds. He noted helium does nOt "see however Casey oregon [Ron] DeSantis are involved."

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Andrade went connected to explicate that helium believes DeSantis’s main of unit astatine the clip was progressive successful brokering the grants betwixt the Hope Florida Foundation and the 2 entities which received $5 cardinal each. 

He besides slammed the Hope Florida inaugural itself, saying "they can’t backmost up immoderate of the claims astir what authorities employees are doing." 

"The conception of Hope Florida is telling existing employees to bash a amended occupation of helping people," Andrede added. "That’s it."

DeSantis antecedently addressed Andrade’s claims astatine a May 21 property league successful Westin, Florida. 

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"You had 1 authorities typical with a governmental agenda, and helium has a governmental docket to effort to smear Hope Florida—to effort to smear radical associated with the administration," DeSantis explained. "My wife, who's done a large occupation for this authorities by the way, not conscionable connected Hope Florida, redeeming taxpayers $100 million, getting 30,000 radical disconnected means-tested welfare. Show maine idiosyncratic other successful this state that has been capable to bash that?"

Rep. Byron Donalds and Florida archetypal woman Casey DeSantis. (Getty Images)

The Hope Florida Foundation contention has shaken up governmental implications for the upcoming governor’s race. Gov. DeSantis is termed out, but his wife, Casey, is wide rumored to participate the field. 

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Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida is the lone GOP campaigner declared truthful far, and helium received an endorsement from President Donald Trump soon aft his announcement. 

Fox News Digital reached retired to the Leon County State Attorney’s bureau but did not person a effect successful clip for publication.

Preston Mizell is simply a writer with Fox News Digital covering breaking news. Story tips tin beryllium sent to Preston.Mizell@fox.com and connected X @MizellPreston