Overview

• Florida’s Department of Children and Families sent a cease-and-desist letter accusing the Orlando Sentinel of intimidating foster families in its coverage of the Hope Florida Foundation.
• Sentinel executives rejected the letter as an unconstitutional attempt at prior restraint and said they will continue reporting on grants distributed by the DeSantis-linked nonprofit.
• State prosecutors in Tallahassee have an open criminal investigation into the foundation’s handling of a $10 million Medicaid settlement.
• Republican lawmakers allege the foundation funneled settlement funds to nonprofits that then supported a political committee opposing a marijuana legalization referendum.
• Gov. Ron DeSantis has defended his wife’s charity and dismissed the scrutiny as a politically motivated smear campaign.