In a filing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Uthmeier acknowledged that Florida “took the risk” that the promised $608 million in federal reimbursement for immigration detention facilities, including “Alligator Alcatraz”, may never materialize. The state conceded there is no legally enforceable right to those funds, even as hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars have already been committed.
So, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier spent this week confronting two uncomfortable facts: the money may never come, and the public still doesn’t have answers.
In addition, new reporting in the Hope Florida Foundation scandal revealed that a state grand jury investigating the diversion of millions of public dollars tied to the Hope Florida Foundation has issued a presentment, a formal report detailing potential governmental misconduct, that remains confidential while a legal challenge plays out.
Floridians are left with two troubling facts: taxpayer dollars put at risk, and public funds meant for Florida’s families and children in need diverted into a political campaign.
José Javier Rodríguez, Democratic candidate for Attorney General, released the following statement:
“Floridians were told that hundreds of millions of federal dollars would cover the cost of facilities like Alligator Alcatraz, a cruel and reckless project that not only leaves our communities hurting with this administration’s immigration overreach but leaves taxpayers shouldering the financial and safety risks. Now the Attorney General admits in federal court that he had no plan, that the state ‘took the risk’ without knowing the money would ever arrive. That’s recklessly gambling with taxpayer dollars that are supposed to be used to protect us from disasters, leaving us more vulnerable in the next storm.
At the same time, damning revelations continue about the $10 million in tax dollars that were illegally taken from sick children, seniors and other Floridians in need who depend on the Medicaid program and instead used in political campaigns. Uthmeier continues to keep the public in the dark about what he did. Floridians deserve transparency, not an Attorney General who refuses to fully answer for his role. It’s time for leadership that protects taxpayers, kids and seniors -- and one that tells the truth.”
The headlines from this week speak for themselves:
Tampa Bay Times: Florida admits federal funding for Alligator Alcatraz may not come
“Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier acknowledged that the promised federal reimbursement of $608 million for immigration detention at facilities like Alligator Alcatraz in the Everglades may never come, according to a court filing on Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.”
‘“The State took the risk (and still does) that federal funding will not materialize,” Uthmeier and the state’s contracted corporate attorneys wrote to the court.”
Florida Trident: Grand jury returns presentment in Hope Florida investigation
“A grand jury investigating the diversion of millions of dollars in public funds to the Hope Florida Foundation has produced a presentment that remains confidential while a legal challenge plays out, the Florida Trident has learned through official responses to public records requests.”
“After receiving the money from Centene, the Hope Florida Foundation wired two $5 million grants to Secure Florida’s Future and Save Our Society From Drugs. Those groups later routed millions to Keep Florida Clean, a political committee formed to oppose Amendment 3, the failed ballot measure to legalize recreational marijuana.”
“James Uthmeier, now Florida’s attorney general, is a central figure because he chaired Keep Florida Clean while he was Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief of staff.”
