TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) – Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed his frustration with state lawmakers Thursday.
DeSantis would not like their investigation into the cash path that connects his spouse’s non-profit “Hope Florida” to a political motion committee. That PAC was used to battle the legalization of marijuana.
Home members have been following the cash for a couple of month now, saying the state’s lawyer basic was calling the photographs and illegally transferring the money round.
Lawmakers met for the final time within the “Hope Florida” investigation. State Rep. Alex Andrade (R- Pensacola) mentioned Thursday that their work is completed and it is as much as the FBI to research additional.
This week, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Mark Wilson, Hope Florida Basis’s Authorized Counsel Jeff Aaron, and non-profit members concerned, like Government Director for Save Our Society from Medicine Amy Ronshausen, have been all presupposed to be questioned by state lawmakers. Every one denied the invitation to seem on the state capitol, some simply minutes earlier than the committee began.
Rep. Andrade mentioned members of Florida Commerce might have identified they have been misusing Medicaid funds.
“I might be extraordinarily involved because the Florida Chamber of Commerce,” mentioned Andrade.
The investigation dives right into a mysterious cash path that state lawmakers consider was a misuse of taxpayer {dollars}. On the middle of lawmakers’ issues, Legal professional Normal James Uthmeier, who was DeSantis’ Chief of Employees on the time.
“I used to be not concerned within the settlement negotiations associated to the Hope Florida contribution, and it, every part appears to be like authorized,” mentioned AG Uthmeier.
“What he is telling common Floridians— we must always be thankful for his fee of cash laundering and wire fraud as a result of he did it for the children. I feel that is inappropriate,” mentioned Rep. Andrade.
8 On Your Facet reached out to Uthmeier’s employees following Thursday’s committee assembly on the Capitol, whose group shared:
Over the previous few weeks, a member of the Florida Home of Representatives has said to the press—repeatedly and conclusively—that Legal professional Normal James Uthmeier dedicated a number of federal and state crimes. These ridiculous accusations are false and never primarily based on any judicial discovering or evidentiary document. We all know political posturing is typical within the legislative course of, however baseless accusations by a member of the legislature in regards to the Legal professional Normal of Florida violating the regulation not solely surpasses what needs to be correct decorum between Florida officers but in addition presents potential authorized ramifications for the Consultant.
It’s simple to allege felony wrongdoing on TV and in left-wing newspapers, however the Consultant ought to keep in mind that he’s a member of the Florida Bar and should adhere to skilled and moral canons. And people canons usually discourage the wild, defamatory accusations he has lobbed on the Legal professional Normal.
Whereas the Consultant is losing time waging law-fare on behalf of his mega weed company personal pursuits, James has been working hand-in-hand with ICE, DOJ, and the FBI to bust felony aliens and deport them out of our nation.
Gov. DeSantis and First Girl Casey DeSantis have been in St. Augustine Thursday morning, touting “Hope Florida’s” success, disregarding the investigation as a political assault, saying there’s been a misunderstanding of the group’s mission.
“While you see a few of these political assaults, that is simply because folks know that is efficient. That’s as a result of they’re threatened by this mannequin. Some individuals are threatened politically as a result of the First Girl’s been so good at doing this,” mentioned Gov. DeSantis.
“What we have tried to do is to essentially re-engineer, rethink the best way that we may also help any person,” mentioned Casey DeSantis.
As Home lawmakers wrap up the investigation, is that this the tip of the story?
“We’re not judges or prosecutors. Whereas I am firmly satisfied that James Uthmeier and Jeff Aaron engaged within the conspiracy to commit cash laundering and wire fraud, and that a number of events performed a task within the misuse of $10 million in Medicaid funds, we as legislators won’t be those making the final word charging choices,” mentioned Rep. Andrade.
