Appeals Court Orders Expungement of Hope Florida Grand Jury Report

TALLAHASSEE — A Florida appeals court on Wednesday ordered a Tallahassee grand jury's report on the Hope Florida initiative expunged, ruling the jury inappropriately accused individuals of criminal behavior and that the state violated confidentiality laws. The 1st District Court of Appeal's decision sided with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration.

The dispute began after the state allocated $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation. A significant portion of these funds subsequently transferred to an anti-marijuana political committee overseen by James Uthmeier, then DeSantis’ chief of staff and later appointed Florida’s attorney general.

The grand jury report, initiated by State Attorney Jack Campbell’s office, alleged the $10 million transfer was “misappropriated” taxpayer money. The report declined to recommend charges against those involved in what it termed a “sophisticated scheme.”

The appellate court, in a majority opinion, stated the $10 million was “never public money” and the transfer constituted a lawful executive action. The court criticized the grand jury report for exceeding its authority, violating confidentiality rules, and containing “inconsistent” and “error-ridden” information, including spelling and mathematical mistakes.

“A grand jury may investigate and report, but it may not declare conduct unlawful and then decline to charge it, and it may not condemn people by name without indicting them,” the court wrote, taking issue with the jury’s branding of individuals as part of a “scheme” without sufficient evidence for criminal charges.

The governor’s office declared the ruling “Complete and Total Vindication.” Uthmeier’s office called it a “complete and total victory.”

The grand jury’s presentment was never officially made public by a Florida court, but CBS Miami published a leaked copy in late August. State law mandates that grand jury reports naming individuals without indictments remain confidential until those individuals have an opportunity to argue for suppression. According to the appellate court’s decision, the state attorney’s office sent the report to 49 individuals in January, some of whom should not have received the confidential document, including state Rep. Alex Andrade, who had investigated Hope Florida in 2025.