TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Lawmakers questioned Hope Florida officials Tuesday morning to further investigate those involved in the ongoing probe into the non-profit and a mysterious money trail tied to a $10 million Medicaid settlement.

The central concern: How funds from last year’s Medicaid agreement may have been funneled, potentially illegally, into political organizations.

During Tuesday’s committee meeting, House members questioned Taylor Hatch from the Department of Children and Families, Joshua Hay, President of The Hope Florida Foundation, Inc., and Erik Dellenback, the Executive Director of Hope Florida, on their knowledge and involvement in the situation.

Key concerns raised included: Who is protecting this pot of money? How did it get from point A to point B? And is there reason to believe this was all fraud?

“In recent weeks, the public reporting has made evident that mistakes were made. There are lapses in reporting procedures, and the foundation was not provided with the staffing support necessary to ensure all matters were being quickly and appropriately handled,” Hay said.

Hay plans to hold a meeting with the Hope Florida Foundation Board Thursday to discuss next steps and invites the public and all interested parties to attend.

Both Democrats and Republicans inside the statehouse expressed skepticism, pointing fingers at Florida’s Attorney General, James Uthmiere, suggesting he played a direct role in steering funds.

“The Hope Florida foundation gave two $5,000,000 grants to a pair of dark money groups who days later gave millions of dollars to a political committee set up to defeat the marijuana legalization constitutional amendment,” said State Representative Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa). “This political committee was controlled by James Uthmiere.”

State Representative Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) echoed those concerns.

“I know that he reached out personally to Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society from Drugs. I know that he played a role in the settlement at AHCA that steered this money to the Hope Florida foundation, and money immediately ended up in his bank account,” Andrade said. “He knew where that money came from; he knew it was Medicaid money; he knew it went to a 501c3; and then he knew it ended up in his bank account. That’s our AG? That’s the best Florida has to offer?”

Andrade, a key Republican following the Hope Florida money trail, wasn’t fully satisfied with the answers he received in committee, saying he plans to hold another panel discussion next week on Thursday.

Governor Ron DeSantis also chimed in on the controversy, using the moment to call out Republicans in the House, once again.
“We have this almost 3-to-1 super majority of Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives, and it is rotten,” DeSantis said. “They are behaving more like Democrats, and they are colluding with the left and colluding with the media and to try to sabotage all the great success that Florida has had over the last six years.”