zonaintegritas.news · Zona Integritas · September 4, 2026
Florida Democrats Push to Impeach Attorney General Over Diverted Funds
# Florida Democrats Push to Impeach Attorney General Over Diverted Funds
Nathan P. Brooks
Published Sep 5, 2026 - 06:24 2 Reads
Last Update Sep 5, 2026 - 06:24
House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell called on Sept. 2 for a special legislative session to consider impeaching Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier following a leaked grand jury report showing the DeSantis administration misappropriated $10 million in Medicaid settlement funds for political purposes.
The leaked report, originally filed under seal with the Leon County Clerk's Office on Jan. 28, revealed that $10 million from a $67 million settlement with Medicaid vendor Centene was diverted to the Hope Florida Foundation. The foundation subsequently routed the cash through non-profit groups into political action committees managed by Uthmeier, who was then serving as Chief of Staff to Gov. Ron DeSantis, to campaign against 2024 ballot measures on abortion rights and recreational marijuana legalization.
Although the grand jury concluded that taxpayer money was misused, it declined to issue criminal indictments because state officials and witnesses could not recall who directed the initial transfer. Uthmeier, appointed attorney general by DeSantis prior to the investigation, faces an impeachment motion that requires a two-thirds vote in the Republican-controlled House and a subsequent trial in the Senate.
Democratic lawmakers strongly criticized the administration's actions and urged formal legislative oversight following the revelation of the report.
"The grand jury clearly found that this was a criminal action involving the misappropriation of taxpayer money — your money, my money, our money — by Republicans at the highest levels of state government who put their own political ambitions over helping the people they were elected to serve," Driskell told reporters in a video press conference.
Other members of the Democratic caucus echoed the call for accountability across executive offices.
"Someone should go to jail for this," said Rep. Yvonne Hinson, D-Gainesville.
Political opponents in the upcoming gubernatorial race also addressed the findings, offering contrasting views on future action.
"This may well be the most brazen act of political corruption we have seen here in Florida," Jose Javier Rodriguez said last week.
Former Democratic Congressman David Jolly, running for governor, pledged to launch a new inquiry if elected, while his Republican opponent brushed off the proposal.
"We are going to work with the Legislature. We're going to make the necessary law changes so that this does not occur again," Donalds told WUSF at a campaign stop in Tampa on Aug. 31.
Campaigning in Doral, Donalds further argued that voters remain focused on economic conditions rather than past state administrative settlements.
"I'm telling you, when I travel the state of Florida, it doesn't matter if I'm here in Doral or in Pensacola," he said. "What people are concerned about is: How am I going to put food on the table? How am I going to keep the lights on?"
Federal lawmakers from the state expressed concern over the report's details regarding taxpayer money designated for healthcare programs.
"Money designated to help poor kids was diverted to political ads," he told the Tampa Bay Times. "Florida families deserve accountability, not more finger pointing in Tallahassee."
Administration officials and key figures named in the investigation maintained that the settlement process was handled lawfully and dismissed accusations of wrongdoing.
"I wasn't involved in the settlement agreement, but I'm very happy with how everything was done," DeSantis said on Wednesday during a news conference.
Addressing reporters earlier in the year regarding the confidential nature of the proceedings, Uthmeier defended his stance and denied any criminal conduct.
"I don't think anybody cares about this topic any more than the liberal media," Uthmeier said in April. "Again, there was a grand jury proceeding. Under Florida law the contents thereof are confidential.
That's not my choice. That is Florida law. What I can tell you is I have not been indicted.
I've not been a suspect or a target. I have not been involved in any criminal activity. Nobody did anything wrong here."
Following recent inquiries from the press after the report was leaked, Uthmeier questioned the legality of press inquiries into sealed proceedings.
"Are you trying to solicit a crime here in violation of the law?" Uthmeier asked News 6 reporter Mark Lehman during a news conference last week after Lehman inquired about the grand jury report.
Judicial officers involved in the execution of the original settlement agreement declined to detail internal grand jury matters citing state statutes.
"As a sitting judge, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on past or ongoing court proceedings," Guard wrote to CBS News Miami. "Even if I weren't a sitting judge, to the extent that there was a grand jury, Florida law also makes it unlawful to disclose such proceedings."
The initial legislative inquiry into the Centene settlement began in April 2025 under Republican state Representative Alex Andrade, who chaired the House Healthcare Budget Subcommittee before handing findings over to state prosecutors.
"Ten million dollars is a lot of money," Andrade said at the time. "If someone defrauded the state or a charity out of $10 million, they would go to prison. That occurred."
Reporting on the initial leak, media outlets noted the widespread impact of the document's publication across state political channels.
"Our story has set off a political firestorm across the state," DeFede said during the August 30 edition of Facing South Florida.
The Florida House currently holds an 82–34 Republican majority, making the passage of an impeachment resolution dependent on cross-party support during any upcoming legislative session.
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