TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – One of many teams that state Rep. Alex Andrade was in search of solutions from throughout his probe into the Hope Florida Basis’s $10 million funding inflow through a state authorized settlement mentioned that Andrade additionally issued threats towards him.
The event comes after Florida’s Voice reported final week that the manager director of a nonprofit, Amy Ronshausen of Save Our Society From Medication and Drug Free America Basis, accused Andrade of breaking confidentiality, pressuring her lobbyist and threatening her with a subpoena over a grant her group additionally obtained from Hope Florida.
Safe Florida’s Future, or SFF, is chaired by Mark Wilson, who can be the CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
“Mr. Andrade has pressured and tried to bully companies and professionals, together with Florida Chamber members, to assist advance his narrative,” Wilson informed Florida’s Voice. “That’s disappointing, particularly since I had an in depth courtesy assembly with Mr. Andrade throughout which I corrected his misunderstandings.”
Andrade denied the allegations to Florida’s Voice and reiterated claims he’s made about Wilson over the previous week.
“Mark’s claims are completely false, I perceive why he’s spiraling, however no quantity of advert hominem accusations can excuse his personal actions,” Andrade mentioned.
AHCA’s basic counsel beforehand mentioned the funds weren’t Medicaid {dollars} and had been by no means paid to the state; and subsequently, the donation didn’t violate state legislation or require legislative disclosure.
SFF was invited to testify earlier than the Home Well being Care Price range Subcommittee in late-April concerning a $5 million grant distributed from the Hope Florida Basis.
The inspiration is the fundraising arm and nonprofit for Hope Florida, a direct service group that advances the targets of the Division of Kids and Households.
“I sit up for listening to what occurred associated to the $5,000,000 in Medicaid funds that had been distributed out of Hope Florida [Foundation’s] account and to his group,” Andrade mentioned on April 23.
In letters obtained by Florida’s Voice, despatched from Wilson to Andrade, the SFF chairman explains why he denied the invite.
In a single, dated April 24, Wilson writes that he and Andrade spoke on April 11, the place Wilson defined that he informed Andrade that as a 501(c)(4) group, SFF has the “proper to retain the confidentiality of data that is protected against disclosure by legislation, together with the best to freely affiliate.”
“As a result of I have already got shared what I’m able to share, and in line with my obligation to take care of and uphold the rights of my group and its donors, I don’t consider an extra dialogue could be productive or use the committee’s time,” Wilson mentioned.
Wilson went on to say that as a 501(c)(4), SFF is just not a “political committee” and that grants to the group aren’t “political contributions”; Andrade had been vocally involved that the grants distributed from Hope Florida – a part of the Florida Division of Kids & Households – had been used for political functions.
“Particularly, inquiry into associational data together with donor identities or a company’s deliberations about the way it raises and spends its funding is protected by the well-established associational privilege afforded to 501(c)(4) organizations, together with Safe Florida’s Future,” he mentioned.
“I’ve no want to impede your Subcommittee’s efforts to advertise transparency and accountability. However details about the funding or expenditures of Safe Florida’s Future, or its deliberations, would infringe bedrock associational rights, undermining the group and chilling its constitutionally protected conduct,” Wilson wrote. “I subsequently respectfully decline your invitation.”
On the morning of April 24, Andrade blasted Wilson on X, saying he’s “disgusted by his [Wilson’s] actions.”
A day later, on April 25, Wilson wrote to Andrade once more, responding to an April 18 request from Andrade for “privileged and guarded data [for the] Well being Care Subcommittee.”
“Though you’ve acknowledged publicly that the subcommittee’s work on this topic is completed, out of courtesy to you and the subcommittee, I wished to supply a well timed response to your request,” Wilson mentioned. “As we mentioned throughout our courtesy cellphone name on April 11, 2025, Safe Florida’s Future has, and at all times will, adjust to all legal guidelines governing non political 501(c)(4)’s.”
“As my earlier letter indicated, sharing data topic to constitutional privileges afforded to 501(c)(4) organizations, together with Safe Florida’s Future, would infringe bedrock associational rights, undermining the group and chilling its constitutionally protected conduct,” he wrote. “I subsequently respectfully decline your request.”
Andrade denied earlier allegations of threatening Save Our Society From Medication and Drug Free America Basis: “I categorically deny threatening or pressuring anyone. I didn’t even know there was any cash within the funds associated to their group.”
In latest weeks, Andrade has questioned the donations, held hearings, and claimed Lawyer Basic James Uthmeier “illegally steered cash” into his political motion committee.
Wilson replied: “Let me be crystal clear, any suggestion that I informed Chairman Andrade that James Uthmeier directed contributions from Safe Florida’s Future to a political marketing campaign or any third celebration is nonsensical and false. Interval.”
“The truth is, as I informed Mr. Andrade, and have repeatedly and publicly emphasised, the Board of Safe Florida’s Future, and solely the Board, makes choices concerning the group’s technique, ways, companions and expenditures,” he mentioned.
