David Jolly: First Lady Casey DeSantis, Hope Florida were ‘used’ in a ‘sinister plan’

Florida gubernatorial candidate David Jolly said First Lady Casey DeSantis was 'used' in what he called a 'sinister plan' involving the Hope Florida Foundation, after a grand jury report found $10 million from a Medicaid settlement with Centene was diverted through the foundation to nonprofits that funneled money to a PAC fighting a marijuana legalization amendment. The amendment failed. Jolly, breaking from his usual attacks, agreed with Gov. Ron DeSantis that the first lady herself wasn't responsible.

The grand jury named Attorney General James Uthmeier — the governor's former chief of staff — along with Sen. Ashley Moody and her former deputy John Guard as involved in approving the transfer, but concluded charges would be hard to prove since no witness would take responsibility or claimed to remember who made the call. Only former AHCA Secretary Jason Weida testified before the grand jury.

Jolly called Republican rival Byron Donalds a coward for refusing to commit to reopening the investigation and pledged to do so himself if elected, either through the AG's office or a special counsel. He also endorsed the grand jury's recommendations to route agency funds through general revenue and impose real consequences for violations.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.