TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida House ended its probe Thursday into Hope Florida, a welfare assistance program First Lady Casey DeSantis established in 2021. 

Pensacola State Republican Rep. Alex Andrade closed the investigation Thursday after key figures in the probe opted not to appear before a House committee.

“I know enough to know that there was a culture of deception, incompetence and a treatment of taxpayer funds as if it was their own kind of personal piggy bank,” said Andrade.

The probe’s conclusion is welcome news to Gov. Ron DeSantis. He’s described it as a political attack orchestrated by House Republicans, Florida Democrats and news media.

“Some of these people view it as a way to attack the First Lady and all the great things she’s done because they view her as a threat,” said DeSantis, whose wife is reportedly considering mulling a run for Florida Governor in 2026.

The House’s probe questions the legality of a $10 million “donation” to the Hope Florida Foundation, which originated out of a $67 million settlement between the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration and a Medicaid healthcare company, Centene.

Florida law directs most settlement money into the state’s general revenue fund, or into a trust fund. However, Gov.  DeSantis defends the donation as non-taxpayer money that was a "cherry" on top of the settlement.

“I would hope that the appropriate authorities would jump in because what happened here is illegal,” said House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, of Tampa.

The investigation also explored allegations the Hope Florida Foundation possibly colluded and misused tax dollars to combat Amendment 3 in 2024 — a ballot initiative in Florida that would’ve legalized recreational marijuana.

Documents show the Foundation gave the money to two not-for-profit groups, who days later donated to Keep Florida Clean — an anti-recreational marijuana group led by DeSantis’ then Chief of Staff, James Uthmeier, who serves now as Florida Attorney General.

“These ridiculous accusations are false and not based on any judicial or evidentiary findings,” Uthmeier wrote in a statement.

While scheduled hearings are complete, House Speaker Danny Perez, of Miami, says the House may resort to subpoenas to get more answers. Further action is also a possibility within the year, too.

“All options are still on the table with Hope Florida,” said Perez. “We have not closed the door on that.”

First Lady DeSantis spearheaded Hope Florida in 2021. It “serves as a connection point for community collaboration between the public and private sector, faith-based communities, and nonprofits,” says the website.