The Florida Department of Children and Families asked a state newspaper to hold off on publishing a story about a foster care organization connected to the Hope Florida Foundation. The foundation has ties to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis.
Letter to Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel received a cease-and-desist letter claiming that families interviewed for the upcoming story had been coerced into sharing information that casts the nonprofit in a negative light. On June 6, the agency posted the letter on X detailing the reports they received regarding the news outlet.
“To harass and intentionally cause distress to families by threats and coercion is abhorrent,” the letter states.
The letter names reporter Jeff Schweers, accusing him of contacting families and suggesting they committed fraud by accepting financial assistance from the Hope Florida Foundation. According to the letter, the organization helped families during the aftermath of Hurricanes Milton and Helene to ensure they could care for their foster children.
“Here, the two (that we know of) families contacted were aided by Hope Florida Foundation, Inc., in rebuilding their first homes after a devastating storm to ensure their caregiving was uninterrupted,” the letter reads.
In response to the letter, the governor addressed the situation in a social media post, writing, “Bottom feeders gonna bottom feed.”
Bottom feeders gonna bottom feed… https://t.co/8cfqnwtrI8
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 6, 2025
Sentinel fires back
The Sentinel responded to the letter and allegations in a June 8 editorial, saying the agency can’t bully their newsroom into scraping the story.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Executive Editor Roger Simmons, who was also named in the letter, defended the Sentinel’s reporting, citing the newsroom’s constitutional rights as journalists.
“We stand by our stories and reject the state’s attempt to chill free speech and encroach on our First Amendment right to report on an important issue,” Simmons said.
First Amendment encroachment?
Legal experts say the cease-and-desist letter raises serious First Amendment concerns, pointing to what they describe as an attempt by a state agency to suppress reporting that reflects poorly on political figures.
“DCF can send all the cease and desist letters it wants, but the Sentinel isn’t obligated to follow any of them,” Clay Calvert, a law professor at the University of Florida. “This is really trying to silence any negative coverage before it comes out.”
By pressuring a newsroom not to publish a story involving a nonprofit tied to the governor’s office, he argues the move encroaches on press freedom and sets a troubling precedent.
Journalists are protected by the Constitution, and have the right to investigate and report on matters of public interest.
Investigation into Hope Florida Foundation
The nonprofit is not only linked to the Department of Children and Families but is also connected to the First Lady and is currently under investigation, according to the AP.
Florida lawmakers raised concerns in April after discovering that $10 million from a Medicaid settlement, originally held by the state’s adoption agency, had been directed to two nonprofits, including Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida organization. The funds were later redirected again and ultimately used to support political efforts, including the governor’s campaign against a proposed recreational marijuana referendum.
