DeSantis and CFTOD Face Insider Dealing Allegations Amid Legal Battle with Disney

As a December court date approaches, the CFTOD is accused of awarding contracts without competition, raising ethical concerns.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) are preparing for a final stand in court against Walt Disney World (WDW) over a series of lawsuits, with a hearing date set for December 12.
Disney's lawsuits claim that DeSantis and the CFTOD retaliated against the company for its opposition to a controversial Florida bill and for exercising its right to free speech.
The CFTOD, under DeSantis, has been accused of insider dealing, with allegations of a $240,000 contract awarded to a political insider without competition and a $495 per hour legal contract given to a lawyer with close ties to the board chairman.
The CFTOD is also planning to invest $1 million in a new communication network to separate itself from the existing WDW system.
In 2022, WDW contributed $40.3 billion to the Central Florida economy and created 250,000 jobs, but concerns have been raised about the impact of the CFTOD on the Disney economy in Florida.