TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Concerns are growing about Hope Florida and its funding sources as reports emerge of subpoenas and grand jury investigations. The details remain largely unknown as state lawmakers deliberate on potential actions.
Hope Florida, designed to help individuals transition away from government assistance, has come under fire in recent months due to a convoluted money trail that begins with a Medicaid settlement and ends with a political action committee.
“This is the kind of swamp-like behavior that frustrates people, leading to widespread cynicism about politics,” stated State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa).
In May, Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald first reported on an open criminal investigation into the scandal.
8 On Your Side reached out to Leon County State Attorney Jack Campbell, who commented, “No, there’s no comment on that at all. Everything that the grand Jury does is, in fact, confidential.”
In the last legislative session, state Rep. Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) spearheaded a House committee investigation into the issue, but when that ceased suddenly, he transferred all his findings to prosecutors.
“If they fail to be responsible with taxpayer dollars, we need to enhance our oversight and guidance of the executive to ensure taxpayer funds are protected, especially if Governor DeSantis is indifferent,” said Andrade.
DeSantis, however, has said there was no basis to conduct an investigation, and it was all politically motivated.
“Just understand what happened. He took documents and he dropped them in a prosecutor’s office. That is not an organic investigation. That’s a manufactured political operation,” said DeSantis.
State lawmakers now say there are legislative guardrails they can put into place to make sure this never happens again, but the question remains if they’ll take that step.
