Ron DeSantis fired back at GOP critics after they made one shocking accusation against his wife

The popular governor came out swinging against critics who tried linking him and his wife to a controversial $10 million fund transfer.

And Ron DeSantis fired back at GOP critics after they made one shocking accusation against his wife.

DeSantis says attacks on Hope Florida Foundation mirror attacks on Trump

The DeSantis administration forcefully responded to allegations connecting the governor and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis to $10 million given to the Hope Florida Foundation after the state settled with a government-sponsored healthcare provider.

“Governor DeSantis and Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis have been subject to politically motivated lawfare in the state of Florida, and now the same lawfare is being perpetrated against President Trump and his nominees,” Communications Director Bryan Griffin told Fox News Digital. “It’s ridiculous and especially shameful coming from Republicans who hate to see others delivering results.”

The controversy centers around $67 million returned to Florida by Centene, a large medical insurance provider that specializes in government-sponsored programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

The company settled with the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration over claims that Centene was overbilling Medicaid payments.

Following the September 2024 settlement, $10 million of those funds went to the Hope Florida Foundation.

Critics claim the money was diverted to political causes

The $10 million given to the Hope Florida Foundation was split into two separate $5 million grants to 501(c)(4) organizations.

One went to Save Our Society from Drugs and the other to Secure Florida’s Future, Inc.

From there, $8.5 million of those funds were later dispersed to Keep Florida Clean, a political action committee that previously targeted Florida Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment to recreationally legalize marijuana.

Casey DeSantis has been outspoken against marijuana legalization, leading critics to suggest the funds were being redirected to support her political priorities.

A senior official from DeSantis’s office told Fox News Digital that the Hope Florida Foundation is a separate entity from the Hope Florida initiative spearheaded by Casey DeSantis.

Republican state rep led criticism but admits DeSantis likely not involved

Florida state Republican Representative Alex Andrade, chairman of the health care appropriations subcommittee, initially unearthed the flow of funds.

However, he told Fox News he was unaware if there was an actual ongoing investigation, though he had a “long conversation with the [Department of Justice]” about documents and communications related to the movement of funds.

Andrade noted he doesn’t “see how Casey or Ron DeSantis are involved.”

Instead, Andrade suggested that DeSantis’s former chief of staff was involved in brokering the grants between the Hope Florida Foundation and the two entities which received the $5 million each.

Andrade also criticized the Hope Florida initiative itself, saying “they can’t back up any of the claims about what state employees are doing.”

“The concept of Hope Florida is telling existing employees to do a better job of helping people,” Andrade added. “That’s it.”

DeSantis slams “political agenda” behind accusations

Governor DeSantis previously addressed these claims at a May 21 press conference in Westin, Florida, directly calling out the political motivation behind them.

“You had one state representative with a political agenda, and he has a political agenda to try to smear Hope Florida—to try to smear people associated with the administration,” DeSantis explained.

He defended his wife’s work, saying, “My wife, who’s done a great job for this state by the way, not just on Hope Florida, saving taxpayers $100 million, getting 30,000 people off means-tested welfare. Show me someone else in this country that has been able to do that?”

No official investigation despite media reports

A senior official from DeSantis’ office told Fox News Digital that there is no official investigation being conducted by the Leon County State Attorney’s office, despite reports claiming otherwise.

In a May 21 email exchange obtained by Fox News Digital, the New York Times corrected a headline stating that “Casey DeSantis [Is] Under Investigation” after a DeSantis official clarified to the publication that there is no official investigation taking place.

Political implications for Florida’s future

The controversy comes at a politically sensitive time. Governor DeSantis is term-limited, but Casey DeSantis is widely rumored to be considering entering the 2026 governor’s race.

So far, Republican Representative Byron Donalds is the only declared GOP candidate for Florida governor.

Donalds received an endorsement from President Donald Trump shortly after his announcement.

The timing of these accusations has raised questions about whether they’re designed to damage Casey DeSantis politically before she can announce any potential candidacy.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Leon County State Attorney’s office but did not receive a response in time for publication.