TALLAHASSEE — A key lawmaker said he will issue a subpoena for text messages and call logs from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier about the Hope Florida Foundation, a dramatic escalation in House Republicans’ investigation into the charity overseen by first lady Casey DeSantis.
Rep. Alex Andrade told the Times/Herald Monday night that he decided to issue a subpoena to the state’s top prosecutor after speaking to the leaders of two dark money groups that received $5 million grants from the foundation last year.
One of them said that Uthmeier directed her to ask the foundation for the grant, and the other didn’t deny it, Andrade, a Pensacola Republican, said. Both groups subsequently gave millions to a political committee controlled by Uthmeier to help fight a recreational marijuana amendment.
Andrade claimed that he has “confirmed definitively that James Uthmeier reached out to these 501(c)(4)’s personally and directed them to submit $5 million requests to Hope Florida.”
Andrade has been using his position on the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee to look into the finances and operations of Hope Florida and the Hope Florida Foundation charity created to support the program, intended to help struggling Floridians get off government assistance.
Earlier this month, the Times/Herald reported that the DeSantis administration steered $10 million from a $67 million Medicaid settlement to the foundation.
Andrade has been questioning whether that decision was illegal and where the $10 million went after the foundation received the money from Centene, a Medicaid contractor that had overbilled the state. On Friday, the Times/Herald reported that the money went to Save Our Society from Drugs and Secure Florida’s Future Inc., dark money nonprofits that quickly contributed millions to a political committee controlled by Uthmeier.
On Monday, Andrade said the executive director for Save Our Society From Drugs said that Uthmeier — at the time chief of staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis — directed her to ask the foundation for the grant.
Both dark money groups were against the recreational marijuana campaign and had previously given at least $1 million each to the effort in September. Andrade said that Amy Ronshausen, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs, said no one told her to wire the money to the political committee. But Andrade said Ronshausen told him that Uthmeier understood what she would do with the funds.
Ronshausen couldn’t be reached for comment Monday night. Andrade said the impression he had was “she thought it was OK because James told her it was OK.”
Uthmeier coordinated the transaction, Andrade said. Andrade said he also plans to subpoena text messages and call logs of at least two other people involved in the transactions: the head of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the attorney representing the Hope Florida Foundation.
On Tuesday morning, Andrade is planning to question three Hope Florida officials about the transaction during his subcommittee meeting. He has invited Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch, Hope Florida Executive Director Erik Dellenback and Hope Florida Foundation Chairperson Joshua Hay to attend.
The grant applications by the dark money groups to the foundation for $5 million apiece were addressed to Hay.
Andrade said he “confirmed that the wire transfer to Save Our Society occurred on Oct. 22.”
Campaign finance records show the St. Petersburg-based organization gave a total of $4.75 million to the political committee Keep Florida Clean. The payments came in three separate transfers, on Oct. 23, Oct. 24 and Oct. 28. The political committee’s purpose was to defeat the marijuana amendment.
“The day after she got the wire, she turned around and gave the first $1.6 million,” Andrade said. “I asked her if that was (from) the $5 million (grant). She said, ‘yes.‘”
Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for Uthmeier, did not address Andrade’s accusations in a statement issued to the Times/Herald and instead took a dig at the lawmaker’s character, suggesting he was carrying water for the marijuana industry.
Andrade said he also asked Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson, who also leads Secure Florida’s Future Inc., the other dark money group that received $5 million from the foundation, about the circumstances that led to the application for the money.
“He was combative and dismissive and said, ‘it was nothing and we do this all the time,‘” Andrade said. ”He just kept saying, it’s a 501(c)(4). I don’t have to confirm anything.”
Andrade said he told Wilson he didn’t know if “James lied to you or you knew exactly what you’re doing, but based on your reactions on this call, it sounds like you’re comfortable being part of a conspiracy.”
A spokesperson for Wilson confirmed that Wilson spoke to Andrade but disputed the lawmaker’s description of what was said. The spokesperson did not elaborate. She said in a statement that the organization, Secure Florida’s Future, is not a political committee and the organization’s board directs its resources.
“I intend to subpoena the text messages tomorrow,” Andrade said. One will go to Wilson.
Andrade said that Uthmeier texted Ronshausen on Oct. 11 and asked her to call him. Andrade said Ronshausen and Uthmeier then had a phone call where Uthmeier told her to request a $5 million grant from the Hope Florida Foundation.
Jeff Aaron, the Hope Florida Foundation’s attorney, then followed up with Ronshauser and sent her Secure Florida’s Future Inc.’s application, Andrade said. She applied.
The two grant applications are similar. They state that the money won’t go toward a political “candidate.”
Andrade said he is also subpoenaing Aaron’s texts and call logs. Aaron said Monday a subpoena wouldn’t be necessary and he’s happy to produce any public records to Andrade, including text messages.
