New court records show who fought to keep Hope Florida grand jury report secret

Ten people and two nonprofits petitioned a judge to redact or completely keep secret a grand jury report alleging the DeSantis administration “misappropriated” $10 million through the Hope Florida Foundation.

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The unredacted report, known as a presentment, was leaked in August amid the legal battle. It said DeSantis administration officials wrongfully diverted millions in public money from a Medicaid settlement through Hope Florida to an anti-marijuana political committee run by the governor’s then-chief of staff.

But earlier this month, an appellate court lambasted the report for being riddled with “defects” and ordered it expunged. The court said the report was illegally leaked and improperly accused people of criminal behavior without an indictment.

On Tuesday, that court posted a that laid out who asked for the report to be redacted in the first place.

Here’s a look at who made the requests:

James Uthmeier

Uthmeier was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff when the Agency for Health Care Administration directed $10 million from a pre-suit Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation, a charity set up to support the Hope Florida initiative championed by first lady Casey DeSantis.

Uthmeier was also in charge of a political committee, Keep Florida Clean, dedicated to defeating a recreational marijuana initiative. That committee got roughly $8.75 million from two nonprofits that had days earlier each received $5 million from the Hope Florida Foundation.

Amy Ronshausen, the director of Save Our Society From Drugs — one of the nonprofits that got money from the foundation — has previously said Uthmeier contacted her to apply for the money.

Uthmeier is now Florida’s attorney general.

Jason Weida

Then the secretary of the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration, Weida worked with the agency’s co-counsel, Andrew Sheeran, on the $67 million Medicaid settlement.

Over the course of about a month, drafts show, the proposed settlement started to include donation proposals to the Hope Florida Foundation. Weida oversaw the change from an initial $5 million carveout to $10 million, the presentment said.

Weida called the $10 million a “bonus” above the damages owed to Florida, although critics say all $67 million should be considered state money.

Weida is now DeSantis’ chief of staff.

Jeff Aaron

Aaron was the attorney for the Hope Florida Foundation.

He reviewed the grant applications from both Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society From Drugs.

He is now the registered agent on Uthmeier’s political committee, Friends of James Uthmeier, and serves on Florida’s Public Employees Relations Commission.

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John Guard

Guard was Florida’s chief deputy attorney general at the time.

He initially raised concerns about the settlement, noting that it “is different” than other Medicaid ones he’d seen.

Guard was later nominated to become a U.S. District judge for the Middle District of Florida. But his nomination stalled out amid concerns about the Hope Florida saga.

DeSantis has since appointed him as a judge on the 2nd District Court of Appeal.

Mark Wilson

Wilson is the CEO of Florida’s Chamber of Commerce and the head of Secure Florida’s Future, the other nonprofit that received $5 million from the Hope Florida Foundation.

Secure Florida’s Future later gave roughly $3.75 million to Keep Florida Clean.

Amy Ronshausen

Ronshausen is the head of Save Our Society From Drugs.

Her nonprofit requested a $5 million grant from Hope Florida and later donated $4.25 to Keep Florida Clean.

Cody Farrill

Farrill is DeSantis’ deputy chief of staff.

Andrew Sheeran

Sheeran was general counsel at the state Agency for Health Care Administration.

Sheeran helped draft the settlement agreement, records show.

He is now a 2nd Judicial Circuit Court judge.

Katie Strickland

Strickland was a deputy chief of staff to DeSantis at the time of the settlement.

The grand jury report called her the “least informative” of those interviewed and “not credible.”

Strickland is now chief of staff to Florida’s chief financial officer.

Frank Walker

Walker leads the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s political team and was a board member for Secure Florida’s Future.

During his grand jury testimony, Wilson reportedly said that Walker suggested he put in a grant request to the Hope Florida Foundation.

Save Our Society From Drugs

The nonprofit that received $5 million from Hope Florida and subsequently gave $4.75 million to Keep Florida Clean.

Secure Florida’s Future

The nonprofit that received $5 million from Hope Florida and later gave $3.75 million to Keep Florida Clean.

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