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Hope Florida Scandal Deepens: Senator Moody Under Intense Fire
The Mystery of Senator Moody and the Missing $10 Million: A Simple Guide
How money meant for sick kids may have ended up in a political fight—and why one Senator won’t talk about it
Meet Senator Ashley Moody
Imagine a student who gets straight A’s but never raises their hand in class. That’s Ashley Moody in a nutshell.
- She’s been a U.S. Senator from Florida for 18 months
- Before that, she was Florida’s Attorney General (the state’s top lawyer) for 4 years
- She rarely gives interviews—mostly only to friendly media like Fox News
- She stays quiet on most big issues
- This strategy worked: she won two statewide elections (2018 and 2022)
Important Point: In January 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to the U.S. Senate to replace Marco Rubio. DeSantis said she was "tough on immigration" and a "law and order stalwart." But he also mentioned something else: she helped defeat two amendments he didn’t like.
What Were Those Amendments?
In November 2024, Florida voters decided on two big changes to the state constitution:
| Amendment | What It Would Do | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Amendment 3 | Legalize recreational marijuana | Failed (56% yes — needed 60%) |
| Amendment 4 | Restore abortion rights | Failed (57% yes — needed 60%) |
DeSantis campaigned hard against both. And here’s where it gets interesting: $10 million helped defeat Amendment 3—and that money has a very suspicious origin story.
The $10 Million Mystery: Step by Step
1. The Backstory: Centene Overcharged Florida
- 2020: A law firm discovers Centene (a giant health company) overbilled Florida’s Medicaid program for prescription drugs
- Florida was owed about $67 million
- 20 other states settled and got their money back
2. Moody Fires the Lawyers
- 2022: As Attorney General, Moody fires the law firm and says Florida will handle it itself
- 2022–2024: Florida does nothing—no lawsuit, no settlement, no money collected
- Meanwhile, 20 other states get paid
3. Suddenly, a Deal Appears (Right Before the Election)
- September 2024: Less than 6 weeks before the November election, Florida suddenly wants to settle
- But there’s a weird change: Instead of $67 million going to the state…
- $57 million → State of Florida
- $10 million → Hope Florida Foundation (a charity connected to Casey DeSantis, the Governor’s wife)
4. The Money Moves Fast
- Centene’s lawyers were nervous—this looked political
- They kept putting "Attorney General Moody" in the contract for protection
- John Guard (Moody’s #2 deputy) kept removing her name
- Guard finally signs → $10 million goes to Hope Florida Foundation
- Within days: The entire $10 million moves from the Foundation → political committees fighting Amendment 3
- One committee was controlled by DeSantis and his chief of staff, James Uthmeier
5. Amendment 3 Fails
- November 2024: Amendment 3 gets 56% — just 4% short of the 60% needed
- January 2025: DeSantis appoints Moody to the Senate and Uthmeier as Attorney General
Callout: The Timeline Looks Very Suspicious
- Money meant for sick kids on Medicaid
- Diverted to a charity run by the Governor’s wife
- Immediately moved to defeat a ballot measure the Governor opposed
- Weeks later, the two key players get big promotions
What the Investigators Found
In 2025, the Florida House held hearings. Republican Rep. Alex Andrade led the investigation.
His Findings:
- The Attorney General’s office approved the $10 million diversion
- No safeguards, no contracts, no audits—the usual rules were ignored
- The Hope Florida Foundation couldn’t even meet basic IRS rules for a charity
- Andrade called it: "A misuse of Medicaid money… This is money laundering."
The Grand Jury
- A grand jury investigated in Leon County
- No criminal charges were filed
- But the grand jury wrote a report—likely critical and embarrassing
- The report is being kept secret—possibly blocked by someone named in it
- James Uthmeier (now Attorney General) refuses to say if he’s blocking it
- He calls the whole thing a "nothing burger"
The Big Question: What Did Moody Know?
CBS Miami has been trying for weeks to ask Senator Moody:
- Did you know the $10 million would be used for politics?
- Did you talk to the Governor or his team about it?
- Was it appropriate for Medicaid money to fund a political campaign?
- Did you try to block the grand jury report?
- Do you want the report released?
Her Answer: Total Silence
- No interview
- No response to written questions
- No comment at all
Even Rep. Andrade tried to interview her during his investigation—she never responded.
The Other Senator Speaks Up
Senator Rick Scott (Florida’s other Senator) didn’t stay quiet:
"Millions in tax dollars for poor kids have no business funding political ads."
But from Senator Moody? Crickets.
The John Guard Connection
John Guard was Moody’s Chief Deputy Attorney General—the guy who signed the settlement.
- 2025: President Trump nominates him for a federal judgeship
- Rick Scott blocks it—demanding Guard answer questions about Hope Florida
- Moody gets furious—reportedly threatens to block Scott’s judicial picks
- Result: Guard withdraws from federal nomination
- January 2025: DeSantis appoints Guard to a state appeals court instead
This suggests Moody is VERY protective of what Guard knows.
Why This Matters Now
Moody is running for a full Senate term in November 2026.
- She can’t avoid questions forever
- The grand jury report may eventually come out
- Voters deserve to know: Did their top law enforcement officer help move money from sick kids to a political campaign?
Summary: The Simple Version
| What Happened | Why It’s Weird |
|---|---|
| Florida was owed $67M from a healthcare company | 20 other states got paid; Florida waited years |
| Moody fired the lawyers handling the case | No explanation given |
| Suddenly, weeks before an election, a deal appears | $10M diverted to a charity tied to the Governor’s wife |
| The charity immediately sends the $10M to fight a ballot measure | The Governor opposed that measure |
| The measure fails by a tiny margin | The Governor appoints Moody to the Senate weeks later |
| Investigators call it "money laundering" | The grand jury report is hidden |
| Moody refuses to answer any questions | Her former #2 gets blocked from a federal judgeship |
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
What is the Hope Florida Foundation?
A charity started by Casey DeSantis (the Governor’s wife). It’s supposed to help struggling families—but in this case, it acted like a pass-through for political money.
Is this definitely illegal?
A grand jury looked at it and didn’t bring charges. But Republican lawmakers called it "money laundering" and a "misuse of Medicaid money." The secret report might have more answers.
Why does Medicaid money have special rules?
Medicaid is federal-state money for healthcare. Strict rules say it must be spent on healthcare—not politics. Diverting it could violate federal law.
What happens if the grand jury report is released?
It could be embarrassing or damaging to Moody, DeSantis, Uthmeier, and Guard. It might also trigger new investigations or legal action.
Why should I care if I don’t live in Florida?
This is about whether elected officials can secretly move public money to help themselves politically. If it happened here, it could happen anywhere. Accountability matters everywhere.
Final Thought
"The only person who can answer these questions is Senator Moody."
— Rep. Alex Andrade, Republican investigator
Silence isn’t an answer. It’s a strategy. And in November, Florida voters get to decide if that strategy works—or if they deserve the truth.
This article is based on reporting by CBS Miami, the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, and Florida House legislative hearings.
