A Florida appellate court ruled Oct. 7 to expunge a grand jury report regarding a $10 million Centene donation to the Hope Florida Foundation, tied to Florida’s first lady, Casey DeSantis.
Florida prosecutors launched a criminal investigation into the donation, which was part of a broader $67 million settlement in 2024 to resolve allegations of overbilling the state’s Medicaid program for pharmacy services. Centene had also been settling with other states over similar concerns.
In August, CBS News Miami obtained a sealed grand jury document from January, reporting the $10 million was “misappropriated” under Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. However, the document also said the grand jury lacked evidence to bring criminal charges.
The Oct. 7 decision concerned the scope of the grand jury’s authority.
“A grand jury may investigate and report, but it may not declare conduct unlawful and then decline to charge it, and it may not condemn people by name without indicting them,” the opinion said.
The opinion added that the state cannot release a confidential presentment before the parties it criticizes have a chance to request its repression or expungement. The court also took issue with how the report handled findings concerning private parties.
“This was the judicial equivalent of a death-by-firing squad to the Hope Florida Hoax,” Mr. DeSantis posted to X on Oct. 7.
Becker’s has reached out to Centene for comment and will update this story if more information becomes available.
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