Jacksonville, Fla. – In a decisive win for Governor Ron DeSantis, the First District Court of Appeal declared the Hope Florida grand jury report unlawful and ordered it expunged. The court said the grand jury acted outside its lawful authority, describing the report as “careless in its grammar, mistaken in its law, and unfaithful to its own record.”
State officials defended against grand jury findings
State purchasing records show that, beginning in October 2025, the administration paid more than $444,000 to private law firms hired to represent officials named in the grand jury investigation. Among the firms were Boies Schiller Flexner, which billed nearly $200,000 at $875 an hour, and Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, which charged over $137,000 at $850 an hour. The contracts continued through the week the appeals court issued its opinion.
Attorney General James Uthmeier, then‑chief of staff to the governor, and other officials—including former chief of staff Katie Strickland, former AHCA secretary Jason Weida, and former AHCA general counsel Andrew Sheeran—were represented by these firms. The court’s decision effectively validates the administration’s stance that the grand jury overstepped its authority.
DeSantis applauds the ruling
Speaking at a news conference in Miami, Governor DeSantis called the decision “probably the biggest judicial smackdown that I have ever seen in my entire career as an elected official.” He reiterated that “there was no misappropriation,” labeling the grand jury’s findings a “lie” and a “hoax.”
DeSantis also warned that the leak of the grand jury report was a crime, saying, “There’s been one crime committed, and it’s the people that leaked the report illegally. Whoever leaked this report needs to be prosecuted.”
Grand jury’s original findings
The Leon County grand jury had concluded that officials diverted $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation, then routed the money through a chain of nonprofits and political committees, including the Republican Party of Florida, to oppose a recreational‑marijuana ballot initiative. The grand jury labeled the diversion a “sophisticated scheme” but noted insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.
Critics of the administration, including some local watchdog groups, argued that using public funds to pay private attorneys to shield officials from scrutiny was improper. However, the appeals court’s opinion directly rebuked the grand jury’s methodology, reinforcing the administration’s legal right to seek confidentiality while appeals were pending.
Legal context and next steps
Under Florida law, individuals named in grand jury reports may challenge findings and request redactions. The appeals court’s order to erase the report underscores the legal principle that a grand jury cannot declare a law broken without issuing an indictment.
The administration’s legal team, led by attorneys such as Christopher Kise—who previously represented President Donald Trump in a classified‑documents case—will continue to defend the confidentiality of the proceedings. State officials have not responded to requests for comment from The Florida Trib.
This ruling marks a significant affirmation of the DeSantis administration’s approach to governance, emphasizing accountability to the rule of law while protecting elected officials from unfounded accusations.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
