In 2021, First Lady Casey DeSantis founded Hope Florida, a charity to connect underprivileged Floridians with government resources, nonprofits, the private sector and religious organizations.[4] The foundation was created to aid Hope Florida, whose "Navigators" are state employees that work with people to find solutions from the private sector, faith-based communities, and nonprofits to help them use all the local community resources available and reduce the need for the government's help.[5]
The 2024 Florida Amendment 3 was a proposed constitutional amendment to the Florida Constitution subject to a direct voter referendum on November 5, 2024, that would have legalized cannabis for possession, purchase, and recreational use in Florida for adults 21 years or older.[6] The amendment achieved a majority 56% support among voters in the U.S. state of Florida but failed to reach the 60% supermajority required for adoption.[7] During the campaign, Governor Ron DeSantis publicly opposed the amendment and multiple political committees spent millions of dollars to ensure its defeat, one PAC having been led by his then-chieff of staff.[8]
Events
Centene Corporation is Florida's biggest Medicaid contractor and overbilled Florida $67 million in 2021. Their discussions with Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) ended in 2024 and Centene agreed to return the $67 million to the federal and state governments. $10 million of that was sent to Hope Florida Foundation, which disbursed the funds to two "dark money"[9] political groups opposed to the 2024 Florida Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative. The Florida Governor and first lady were adamantly opposed to its passage.[9][10] Although a majority of Floridians (55.9%) voted for the issue, a super-majority of 60% was required for approval, so it failed to pass.[10] Millions of dollars in taxpayer money were spent by DeSantis on negative advertisements in the days leading up to the election with both DeSantises making daily appearances to trash talk the amendment.[11]
State Representative Alex Andrade, the Republican who led the bipartisan investigation into Hope Florida, alleged that James Uthmeier, then DeSantis' chief of staff, directed two non-profit groups, Secure Florida's Future, chaired by Florida Chamber of Commerce president Mark Wilson,[12][13] and Save our Society from Drugs, to request money from Hope Florida Foundation. HFF sent $5 million grants to each of the groups, which in turn forwarded the money to the political committee "Keep Florida Clean",[14] whose chairperson was Uthmeier.[15] Uthmeier has claimed he was not involved[16] and is presently the Florida attorney general, appointed by DeSantis.[17] Andrade claims that text messages from Save our Society from Drugs show Uthmeier's involvement and accussed him of money laundering and wire fraud.[18]
On May 20, 2025, State Attorney Jack Campbell of the Second Judicial Circuit Court opened a criminal investigation into the alleged money laundering and wire fraud scheme.[3][20] In an statement to the press, Campbell said: "As for (an) investigation, the only source of information I have received is from members of the press," and "The Florida Legislature has many good lawyers including some former prosecutors. I am sure they would refer any evidence of crimes to me if they found them."[5]
After the controversy became public, the DeSantises received bipartisan condemnation from Florida political leaders.[23] Governor DeSantis spoke to the press, saying: "Everything that’s been thrown at [Hope Florida] is pure politics," and "I believe in this program deeply and stand by it 100%."[5] In regards to the two $5 million donations, DeSantis said: "This was in addition to what they [Hope Florida] were getting. This is kind of like a cherry on top where they agreed to make an additional contribution."[24] DeSantis has pursued political retribution against Republicans who have criticized his actions.[25][26]
Attorney Jeff Aaron is the Registered Agent for the Hope Florida Foundation and provided legal services.[27] The Orlando Business Journal called him the "right-hand man" of Ron DeSantis.[9] His legal work history includes representing the governor when Andrew H. Warren sued DeSantis following Warren's suspension as Hillsborough County state attorney in 2022. Warren claimed DeSantis violated his First Amendment rights.[9] In January 2024, a 3-judge Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled that DeSantis did violate Warren's First Amendment rights, but DeSantis requested a hearing before the full court. When Warren's original term of office ended in January 2025 before that hearing was conducted, the court dismissed the case as moot.[28] Aaron was appointed to the Florida Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) by DeSantis in 2021 as a "part-time" commissioner and earns approximately $78K yearly from the state. He was reappointed by DeSantis in 2025 to serve until 2029.[9] Under Florida Statute 447, members of PERC "shall not be employed by, or hold any commission with, any governmental unit in the state or any employee organization, as defined in this part, while in such office."[29] On April 19, 2025 the Orlando Sentinel stated that Aaron became general counsel of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority in January 2025 at a billing rate of nearly $600 per hour.[9] Aaron referred to the Hope Florida controversy as "a politically motivated witch hunt."[9]
In May 2025, state senator Jay Collins was described as a "vocal advocate" for Hope Florida, saying: "The money was being appropriated and used for the right reasons."[34] In May 2025, Collins spoke alongside DeSantis to defend the "great accomplishments of Hope Florida".[35] In August 2025, Collins praised Hope Florida during his speech at a Republican Party of Florida forum.[36] Later that month, Collins was appointed by DeSantis as Lieutenant Governor of Florida.[37]
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