New unit to prove, prosecute corruption involving public funds

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(The Center Square) – A new Public Corruption Unit will review Florida’s legislative appropriations from the last two fiscal years looking for potential financial misconduct, Attorney General James Uthmeier says.

The unit will operate within the Office of Statewide Prosecution with the goal of investigating and prosecuting corruption involving public funds.

The unit will specifically look into allegations of bribery, extortion, embezzlement, nepotism, kickbacks, improper incentives or benefits tied to special interests, according to the office of the attorney general.

“Public money belongs to the people of Florida, not to insiders, special interests, or anyone looking for a kickback,” said U.S. Attorney for Southern District of Florida Jason A. Reding Quiñones. “When bribery, extortion, embezzlement, or misuse of appropriations implicates federal law, we will investigate and prosecute without hesitation. Attorney General James Uthmeier is a strong partner in this effort. Together, our offices are committed to following the facts, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring that those who abuse the public trust face real consequences.”

The unit’s first review of legislative appropriations will focus on funds awarded to nonprofits and non-governmental organizations, Uthmeier said.

“Our office is launching this unit to ensure taxpayer dollars are used for the taxpayers’ benefit – not special interests for political insiders or personal gain – we will expose and prosecute anyone using a position of public trust for personal benefit,” said Uthmeier.

The attorney general announced Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Richard Mantei will be the one leading up the Public Corruption Unit, which will coordinate with federal, state, and local law enforcement depending on the scope of each case.

The announcement came days after Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, publicly called into question Uthmeier’s part-time adjunct law professor salary at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

“Our unelected Attorney General, James Uthmeier, owes it to the public to confirm whether or not he takes a state funded plane every week to go work at his $100,000 (taxpayer funded) side gig,” Andrade posted on social media.

Uthmeier’s Deputy Chief of Staff Jeremy Redfern replied to Andrade’s accusation about the attorney general using a state funded plane to commute to his teaching gig, replying on social media, “The distance between Tallahassee and Gainesville is less than the distance between Tallahassee and Alex Andrade’s law firm that represents Planned Parenthood.”

It’s not the first time Andrade and Uthmeier have butted heads. Earlier this month, the attorney general called into question Andrade’s role as chairman of the Florida House Health Care Budget Subcommittee.

“Someone aligned with Planned Parenthood should not be chairing a subcommittee focused on the health of Floridians,” said Uthmeier. “I hope the Florida House addresses this, and my office will not be cooperating with that subcommittee as long as Rep. Andrade is involved.”

Andrade fired back his own accusations at Uthmeier.

“I am relieved at Attorney General James Uthmeier‘s announcement that he won’t be messing around with Florida’s healthcare funds this year,” the conservative lawmaker wrote on X. “The last time he did, $10,000,000 in Medicaid funds were stolen.”

Uthmeier’s office said the new Public Integrity Unit is part of an ongoing push to ensure transparency and accountability.