DeSantis-Hope Florida melodrama took another unexpected turn yesterday when Ann Ronhausen, Executive Director of Save Our Society for Drugs (SOS ), sent a letter to Florida House Speaker Danny Perez addressing allegations surrounding a grant her organization received from the Hope Florida Foundation.
Conflicting Accounts
In her statement, Ronhausen claims she had a phone call with Rep. Alex Andrade, chairman of the House Healthcare Budget Subcommittee, after he allegedly pressured her lobbyist, RJ Myers, to make her appear for the call.
- According to Ronhausen’s account, she participated in this meeting under duress due to concerns about potential funding losses for the Drug Free America Foundation and the threat of a subpoena if she didn’t cooperate.
Ronhausen alleges Chairman Andrade promised confidentiality during their discussion but subsequently shared information from their meeting with the media. She further disputes public statements attributed to Andrade, claiming that James Uthmeier approved SOS’s use of Hope Florida grant funds for a campaign opposing Amendment 3.
- “At no time has James Uthmeier directed me or SOS on how to use funds received from an entirely appropriate grant from Hope Florida,” Ronhausen wrote in her letter. She states she is consulting with legal counsel regarding next steps in the matter.
Andrade texted me this morning: “None of that happened by the way.”
The Tampa Bay Times interviewed Myers, who said he approached Andrade with information about his client, which prompted Andrade to request the meeting over the phone.
Ronhausen refused to testify before the House Healthcare Budget Subcommittee. Read Speaker_Perez.
Dig Deeper
The controversy involves $10 million from a $67 million Medicaid settlement with Centene Corporation that was directed to the Hope Florida Foundation, First Lady Casey DeSantis’ initiative, as a “voluntary charitable contribution” instead of going to state accounts.
- Critics allege these funds were then channeled through two nonprofits—Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society from Drugs—which subsequently transferred approximately $8.5-$10 million to a political committee called Keep Florida Clean. This committee, chaired by James Uthmeier, then Governor DeSantis’ chief of staff and now state attorney general, primarily opposed a 2024 ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida.
Rep. Andrade (R-Pensacola) publicly accused Uthmeier and Hope Florida Foundation attorney Jeff Aaron of money laundering and wire fraud. Governor DeSantis, Attorney General Uthmeier, and their allies deny any wrongdoing, calling the allegations politically motivated.
- The Florida House abruptly ended its investigation yesterday due to the lack of cooperation from key figures. Any further action, including possible criminal charges, is now in the hands of federal law enforcement agencies.
