{"id":55640,"date":"2022-10-12T19:30:09","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T23:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/?p=55640"},"modified":"2022-10-12T19:31:20","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T23:31:20","slug":"treasury-department-opens-probe-into-desantis-use-of-federal-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/2022\/10\/treasury-department-opens-probe-into-desantis-use-of-federal-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Treasury Department Opens Probe into DeSantis&#8217; Use of Federal Funds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As the scrutiny into Ron DeSantis\u2019 cowardly move to transport migrants to Martha&#8217;s Vineyard mounts, legal actions and investigations into DeSantis\u2019 maneuvering are piling up.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DESANTIS-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-47471\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DESANTIS-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DESANTIS-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DESANTIS-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/DESANTIS.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the Texas Sheriff&#8217;s investigation into how the migrants were lured onto a plane,&nbsp;and a lawsuit filed against DeSantis and members of his administration by state Sen. Jason Pizzo, the U.S. Treasury Department Office of the Inspector General has also opened an investigation into whether Ron DeSantis misused funds that were meant for relief for Floridians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRon DeSantis\u2019 cruelty knows no bounds,\u201d said&nbsp;<strong>Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Kobie Christian<\/strong>. \u201cFamilies in Florida have real economic problems like skyrocketing property insurance and utility bills that DeSantis refuses to address. Instead,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQt525O7DI7E08Iwx8VwG2vj_ARvS15UFpigeGvP1qhwNQeWFCcQDnPGBlCBc-hq1Xplg1-Fagx5JCgcmScwj7in2zXAE2tt05kfeIoDDV6pAOUcks0-TRSv0btpJgmxTpPOJNGMxNIIA=&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Floridians who survive rape and incest<\/a>&nbsp;have to escape the \u2018free state of Florida\u2019 in order to receive reproductive care because of DeSantis\u2019 extreme abortion ban and their culture war-chasing Governor is under investigation for misusing funds in order to use women and children for political stunts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spectrum News:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQRwoNYILhqMIoxH4xa2vtNGw-S2-2TKMDDW1OCqGmmblDKF9UY9opXsj1aT_pgmQKCBzcATtQ9z8pTI0Frcaj9lXhoL3JFvwo-FN4iJ_4NMI2PRfZoh92R2WtUPY0uNxz3X2H0lURUxNxGkYrKbK1x8AlKPikypEJMb32pkNWbKx1t8Vs9NmRafNGJEZRrUKffaT0lyMLpfEoQuZTsHVFyA==&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>&nbsp;Federal Watchdog Probes Florida Migrant Flights from Texas to Martha&#8217;s Vineyard<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>A federal watchdog is investigating whether the state of Florida improperly used coronavirus relief funds to fly migrants from Texas to Massachusetts last month to protest the Biden administration&#8217;s immigration and border policies.<\/li><li>The flights were paid for by the state of Florida and authorized by Gov. Ron DeSantis,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQWNdZYrMIGpK2c_aR38DDN1JY-bDlQxZ2Sl-sJk7tNe7Ntg1G6fveTwvizIdQcW5JqBiilcCow13HmyW4LpuoSaQujS3oWZZ8D1ya0reTtW7K0K78WiP3A3yNTrZBbeEKjyoKUUQGawFLLeMVmkztnO6EdfcbBsJRNOW1YJ5Wb72Y2rSYv_Z82rQgWC3PZliZSDZ7ES6D7by-OfWgkh5OsYiOFGy2z4KsWAfHWzMDgt8=&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">his office confirmed<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The probe look into whether or not DeSantis used funds earmarked for COVID-19 aid to pay for or facilitate the flights,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQUrFE9EEzHyjjFbg7syJJ_E0Xw8589NwLNIU_tcQmprjLz0SWhB9YXuC35E3ZJNqZfHzraumzURYZ9klRYULn0W2qeN0wZZX27PGujVLMFpWsFcOjvpz70uyOmn8YeFK1V-Xw76k4qpwnQKgQCTrEcg6L-upexZ_qkYm4y0WFB3l6_pJXZmwGEKxzbPPMJfK3&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to a letter to lawmakers<\/a>&nbsp;from Richard Delmar, the Deputy Inspector General of the Treasury Department.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tallahassee Democrat:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQO7hhM6osT85fj4gxE1H_5-mK_EurtPnNPorA9eBswq617b71dp0SDirZJktBRkhWTrTtxe0y7EeuZX3R02bah3VUkUhs2N36rMvrcjM9k0ZVT5AlFH4Md5hM_9AzY3BesLuAD1yvSX_kj-aqjPj1v-OXKb4nspJZKFiEP-nnOmvQSt8PXd0LTo12NPaRtDYcH8wQdNkZN9GhUAACe0ID2N_EUhRyOYlV&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>&nbsp;Inside the records, inconsistencies of DeSantis&#8217; Martha&#8217;s Vineyard migrant relocation plan<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>When Gov. Ron DeSantis sent nearly 50 migrants from Texas to Martha&#8217;s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last month, it appears to have gone against the program guidelines laid out in its bidding process, according to records obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK &#8211; Florida.<\/li><li>The program was designed \u201cto relocate out of the State of Florida foreign nationals who are not lawfully present in the United States,\u201d according to the documents released by the governor&#8217;s office Friday evening after a public records request.<\/li><li>The records include a \u201crequest for quotes\u201d document that the state used to locate bidding companies to take on the program. It too states that the unauthorized immigrants transported should be in Florida.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The budget Florida passed this year also says the money is meant for in-state immigrants, a point that already has become the subject of litigation.<\/li><li>Soon after news broke of the Martha\u2019s Vineyard flights, a Democratic Florida state senator&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQyr5-nQnZghqsqAYoTo5LPxojlnHuqM30Fbi85UT8v5tcDpbKcDDOuyE50JfWTO93tjgLNTdh25QXTTl0hlqdsE_BiL9Q7VaCp28CHBRlg1V02DXpV-50QDw2-j4vYuz3K1nYcwF6WJ6PsgBQyup0eAn8hFRybsacyz2HXBIVzh3f4IRsIp_OXA2UMjWXYIaE2c-H-BE7yjzoCvRhgDEpDLxzpeeMw7DV-hs1VZw6jmg=&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">filed suit<\/a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/r20.rs6.net\/tn.jsp?f=001NfN2UeVKxLrUgF9H6ae_TLwGUl0KOaKpVa5jnNPkZdK33qjHzHv7WrriS_Axp-bQcv3kUXyvPY25S5f_GpPr1pDLF7UQTwCfkplbJ19XvS6HSBQLAruA8SqWuMAOk-g2FHgEtadAfLcl0BfwYSR8O7t-uGHkTzWXvCjqXd4MGoyvTXKoNKhULTd2cwipbQu7WDfU4rmw81K9QrpFclGcOGhz_yXJ81AjfxGi6wrgSvh6pMOGzoS_9rmxpS8RxU9d9ZWlHSvaFl9nABhve3De0XJGRCRONbj5JMDBdd_vM9fNYHmFyyUb-Eu64k1dxYSf&amp;c=NCWjSj8fvAPZal9AoL4pQo_rVDiuLzXMglOpbRe-8D3jbnEvGUd7Qg==&amp;ch=g1fEJwOXRKenTU14NpfX_yOpnkz7iPuxNVKRYF0MOr06zETrovs4NA==\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stop<\/a>&nbsp;DeSantis from using more funds for the program.<\/li><li>And that wasn\u2019t the only legal fallout.<\/li><li>A federal class action lawsuit was filed in Boston on behalf of the migrants that accuses the DeSantis administration of deploying a \u201cfraudulent and discriminatory scheme\u201d to transport them.<\/li><li>And Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County, Texas, announced his agency had opened an investigation into how 48 Venezuelan migrants were \u201clured\u201d to board flights from San Antonio to Martha&#8217;s Vineyard.<\/li><li>The governor\u2019s office and FDOT did not respond to a Saturday morning media request.&nbsp;<\/li><li>The in-state guidelines weren\u2019t the only inconsistencies the USA TODAY NETWORK -Florida found in the records.<\/li><li>The price tag for the Massachusetts flights was initially put at $615,000, but the latest state records show that Florida paid another $950,000 to the Vertol Systems Company, a Destin, Fla.-based aviation firm, bringing the total spent by taxpayers so far to more than $1.5 million.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the scrutiny into Ron DeSantis\u2019 cowardly move to transport migrants to Martha&#8217;s Vineyard mounts, legal actions and investigations into DeSantis\u2019 maneuvering are piling up.&nbsp; In addition to the Texas&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":47471,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[128],"tags":[1817],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55640"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55640"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55642,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55640\/revisions\/55642"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}