DeSantis failed to disclose Republican megadonor gift to Florida Ethics Committee: report

21 June 2023

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis accepted a golf simulator and private flights from a Republican megadonor, The Washington Post reports.

Per the Post, Jeremy Redfern, the 2024 Republican hopeful's spokesperson said, "As with all donations, it was accepted and coordinated by staff and approved by legal counsel," adding, "Donations to the residence and grounds have been received over many administrations. It will remain in the state's possession for the use of first families, their guests, and staff as it is now."

A 2019 letter to GOP millionaire Mori Hosseini, written by ex-DeSantis lawyer and current Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, notes the golf simulator was given to the governor "to be possessed on loan at the Governor's Mansion for an undisclosed term," according to The Daily Beast.

Housseini serves as chair of the University of Florida's board of trustees and leads the Sunshine State's largest developer.

The letter to the megadonor states, "This letter acknowledges that the Mansion Commission has received golf simulator equipment from Mori Hosseini to be possessed on loan at the Governor's Mansion for an undisclosed term. This equipment will be stored within the Florida Governor's Mansion gym and will be returned to you immediately upon request. I have reviewed and approved the circumstances of this loan to the Mansion Commission and verify that it is permissible in accordance with the Governor’s Ethics Code and Florida Statutory Code."

A spokesperson for Florida Ethics Commission told CNN "DeSantis did not disclose the gift" to the commission, and the news outlet reports, "state law requires elected officials to disclose gifts valued at over $100."

A source told the Post the governor's "security cleared two employees of Ohio-based AboutGolf to enter the Governor's Mansion in June 2019 to install the golf simulator," which the publication says "start at $27,500, according to a listing by Precision Sports," while "Curved-screen versions start at $69,500."

The Post also notes:

An Ethics Commission analysis would probably depend on who besides DeSantis had access to the golf simulator, according to Caroline Klancke, executive director of the not-for-profit Florida Ethics Institute and a former general counsel and deputy executive director of the Florida Ethics Commission. The exercise room and the cabana are among the 'private areas' in the mansion used exclusively by the governor and his family, according to state records detailing the mansion's layout and architecture.

In addition to the golf equipment, The Daily Beast reports "finance disclosures reviewed by the Post say DeSantis and his wife borrowed Hosseini's private plane at least 12 times, once as recently as February."

Referring to the commission, Klancke said, "This would be ripe for their scrutiny if a complaint were to be filed. I'm at a loss because it's unusual."

The Washington Post's full report is available at this link (subscription required). The Daily Beast's report is here (subscription required). CNN's report is here.

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