ORLANDO, Fla. — An Orlando attorney says it is “highly unusual” for Gov. Ron DeSantis to petition the state's Supreme Court to convene a grand jury to investigate “any and all wrongdoing” with respect to COVID-19 vaccines.

What You Need To Know

  •  Gov. Ron DeSantis has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to convene a grand jury to investigate COVID-19 vaccines

  •  Orlando attorney Mark NeJame says the move is "highly unusual"

  •  DeSantis is arguing that false or misleading advertisements were made about the vaccines, which is against state law

  •  DeSantis expects state's Supreme Court to approve his petition

The petition claims Pfizer and Moderna, the federal government and others misconstrued vaccine efficacy rates and glossed over mRNA vaccine risks including the possibility of developing myocarditis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and numerous other agencies, say that those risks, while possible, are extremely rare and don't outweigh the benefits of the vaccine.

False or misleading advertisements of a drug are against Florida State Statute 499.0051(11). Violations are a second-degree misdemeanor, or first-degree misdemeanor for a repeat offender.

“Grand juries in Florida are usually reserved for racketeering, murder, sexual battery of a child — not for a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine,” said Mark NeJame of NeJame Law.

The Florida Supreme Court will determine whether there are grounds to seat a grand jury, but DeSantis says he expects the petition to be approved.

“There’s always an argument in the law, but whether it’s a good argument is another question,” NeJame said.