Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last wk.

Hope Florida Foundation Meeting Disrupted by Hackers as Scrutiny Intensifies

The foundation, linked to Casey DeSantis, faces investigations into diverted Medicaid funds and governance failures as its executive director resigns.

The board of directors for the Hope Florida Foundation met via Zoom on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Pictured, clockwise from top left, are Board Chair Joshua Hay, Tina Vidal-Duart, Wendy Nissan, and Stephanie White. (Zoom Workplace)
Image

Overview

  • The Hope Florida Foundation's first public board meeting was disrupted by hackers who displayed Nazi symbols, racial slurs, and pornography on the Zoom feed, forcing the session into recess.
  • The Florida Department of Children and Families apologized for the incident, called law enforcement to investigate, and plans to reschedule the meeting with tighter security controls.
  • The foundation is under legislative and regulatory scrutiny over allegations it diverted $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to political campaigns supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis.
  • Executive Director Erik Dellenback resigned, citing a new role as CEO of the conservative nonprofit Florida Family Voice, amid ongoing criticism of the foundation's governance practices.
  • Lawmakers, including Rep. Alex Andrade, warn the foundation's nonprofit status is at risk due to financial irregularities and urge the recovery of misallocated funds.