Aug. 28, 2026 by David Silverberg, Democratic candidate for Florida Senate District 28
This past Wednesday, Aug. 26, CBS News in Miami released the long-hidden grand jury report on the Hope Florida scandal.
Now everyone can see what Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier and Sen. Ashley Moody were hiding for months: a record of lying, evasions, and most of all, misappropriation of funds.
Ultimately, while the grand jury stated that it could not level a criminal charge because it could not find the one individual responsible, “we can plainly see that taxpayer money was misused for political purposes and we would like to see changes made to prevent this from happening again.”
It also recommended legislative remedies:
“1. The Florida Legislature should enact a law to prevent this situation from occurring. For example, a law that says any monies received by the state from any source must be deposited into General Revenue, and there should be real consequences for anyone violating this law.
“2. The Florida Legislature should enact clear laws setting requirements for how DSOs (Direct Support Organizations or non-profit charities) can use taxpayer funds, ensuring usage of said funds are tracked and monitored, and providing consequences for violation of these mandates.”
These are exactly the measures that I stated I intend to introduce when you elect me to the Florida Senate (Why I will introduce the ‘New Hope for Florida Act’).
They were also the reforms introduced by Florida House Rep. Alex Andrade (R-2-Pensacola). I’m determined to re-introduce them and then see them signed into law.
Andrade was the legislator who first uncovered the misappropriation of funds and he had some choice insights to share with the grand jury when he was interviewed.
As the grand jury report states:
“Based on his review of the issues, Rep. Andrade is convinced that James Uthmeier and others engaged in a conspiracy to defraud the public of the 10 million dollars that went to Hope Florida. Rep. Andrade understands Hope Florida as a philosophy or concept which reassigns existing State employees as ‘Hope Navigators’ to act as unlicensed social workers utilizing a care portal to connect citizens with resources that can meet their needs with the goal of getting these citizens off public assistance. Rep. Andrade’s conclusion is that the Governor was desperate to win the fight against the amendment that would have legalized recreational marijuana in Florida as private donors had contributed large donations to that cause and he wanted to prove to them that their money was well spent not only because the cause was important to the Governor, but also because he wants to be able to go back to those donors for other causes in the future. Rep. Andrade believes that James Uthmeier identified Hope Florida as a patsy organization that could be used to funnel money into his political action committee to help win the fight against Amendment 3 to support the political goals of himself and his boss.”
Of course there will be no criminal prosecutions during this governorship since Attorney General James Uthmeier is the state’s chief law enforcement officer and was one of the principals in misappropriating the funds.
This highlights the critical need to elect a new Attorney General with integrity and commitment to the law—and Jose Javier Rodriguez, the Democrat running for the position, is that person.
It is time to clean up the rot and corruption that is clearly pervading Big Tallahassee. Introducing the “New Hope for Florida Act,” will be an important starting point.
The entire grand jury report can be read here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15YSC5ztguz1srPqz65ibtZSnD5LwmNot/view
This message is approved by David Silverberg and the David Silverberg4Florida campaign.
See Silverberg4Florida.com for more positions and opportunities to volunteer.
To donate to the campaign, please click here.
To read other position papers:
Why I will introduce the “We All Need A Heat Break Act”
Why I will introduce the ‘New Hope for Florida Act’
Why I want to stop ‘tomatoflation’ – and end Big Tallahassee’s war on Florida’s workforce
Why I want to make Florida affordable again
Why I want to face hurricanes and climate change with confidence
Why I want to flush the slush from Florida
Why I want to support our veterans
Why I want to support professional policing and end terror in our communities
Why I want to protect our teachers and end the war on learning
Why I want to defend our Constitutions – both Florida’s and America’s
Why I want to protect Southwest Florida’s water
Why I want to keep Florida’s local governments strong
Why I want to end Alligator Alcatraz
Why I am running for the Florida State Senate in District 28
© 2026 by David Silverberg
I really hate to be a downer…. BUT….
The legislature can pass all the laws they want to. Unless there is enforcement, arrests, convictions and, most of all, prison time, the laws will mean nothing. This is evidenced by all of the present laws that were broken but the Grand Jury was to weak to indict anyone for the crimes. If three people were involved and one will not fess up, then all three should be put through the ringer which will likely squeeze an accusation out of a weak one. With regard to “laws”, just ask Rick Scott how the laws effected his career. Our state, even our national government, is full of criminals who are running around with resumes full of accusation, charges, and sanctions which seem to be points in their favor for higher positions in government. Until significant jail time of not less than five years, or if they are a senator, seven years, and ineligibility for future or present office, the criminal element will continue to flourish. The death penalty may be over-kill (haha) but life in prison without food and no parole might suffice.
IN CASE YOU DIDN’T GET MY FIRST COMMENT, I’LL MENTION IT AGAIN. IN YOUR CAMPAIGN, IT’S NOT WHAT I SEE, IT’S WHAT I DON’T SEE. I SEE NO MENTION OF THE OVER BUILDING OF HOUSING. THEY KEEP PUSHING THE FACT WE ARE IN A DROUGHT, YEAR AFTER YEAR. AND YET, THEY KEEP BUILDING NEW CUMMUNITIES, APARTMENTS WHICH IS USING WATER WE DON’T HAVE. IT’S CAUSING IRRIGATION PROBLEMS AND FLOODING. IT’S OVERLOADING OUR ROADS. THEY SAY THERE’S A SHORTAGE OF WATER AND YET THEY KEEP BUILDING DATA CENTERS. AND LET’S NOT FORGET TO MENTION THE DISPLACEMENT OF THE WILDLIFE.
I SEE NO MENTIONS OF ICE AND THE INHUMANE ACTIONS OF TRUMPS IMMIGRATION POLICIES.
IF YOU WANT MY VOTE, THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS I NEED TO SEE MENTIONED AND IF THESE THINGS AREN’T IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR YOU TO BELIEVE IN ENOUGH TO MENTION THAN YOUR NOT THE CANDIDATE FOR ME AND YET, I’M A DEMOCRAT THROUGH AND THROUGH