TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced this week that she has filed a complaint seeking an investigation into the world’s largest and top-selling coffee chain: Starbucks.
The complaint Moody filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations Wednesday highlights several company policies, including the goal to make its staff at least 40% people of color. The complaint also notes the “anti-bias” training the company provides to employees.
She said the investigation will attempt to determine if the company’s diversity policies violate state law.
Moody announced the investigation Wednesday alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis on the Sean Hannity Radio Show.
“We're going to make sure that this quota for hiring and programs that cause every employee to determine whether they are the problem based on the color of their skin, whether that violates Florida's anti-discrimination laws," Moody said.
DeSantis also commented on the investigation, saying: “You should treat people as individuals. Judge them based on the content of their character, not the color of their skin or their ethnicity or anything like that.”
Starbucks has yet to comment on the investigation. However, Florida Democrats are taking note.
“We plan to fight back against this extreme Republican overreach at the ballot box this November,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.
At least one Florida Democratic lawmaker has described the investigation as wasteful.
“She could be going after price-gouging landlords, or bust up monopolies in our state,” said Orlando Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani. "There’s so much she could do to benefit the consumer, and this isn’t it.”
Meanwhile, there are business concerns too, as this is the second time the state has challenged a Fortune 500 company in two years.
“First Disney, now Starbucks. What’s next?” said Orlando Democratic Rep. Rita Harris.