Latest news with #Uthmeier
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Attorney general targets 2 Florida hospitals over lack of price transparency
Attorney General James Uthmeier issued subpoenas Friday to Florida-based hospitals to ensure they comply with price transparency laws. 'Patients are still consumers, and they deserve transparency,' Uthmeier said in a video posted on X. 'The big healthcare industry complex continues to rake in billions off Americans in their most vulnerable moments. We must protect patients.' Uthmeier said under Florida law, a hospital's failure to provide price disclosure may constitute an unfair and deceptive trade practice. He said his subpoenas are related to patient charges, disclosures, billing practice, price transparency and surprise billing protections. The attorney general said his investigation is in line with President Donald Trump's price transparency executive order. Patient advocacy groups in Florida have been pushing for more price transparency. 'Hospitals have hidden their prices yet have forced patients to sign a blank check before they can get care,' said Cynthia A. Fisher, founder and chairman of a nonprofit focused on healthcare price transparency. 'As long as prices have been hidden, hospitals have been able to charge whatever they want. The attorney general's action aims to protect patients by providing actual, upfront prices. This investigation will protect Floridians from hospitals' predatory practices, prevent overcharges, and make bills accountable.' Uthmeier's subpoenas were delivered to Southern Baptist Hospital of Florida in Jacksonville and Adventist Health (Advent Health) in Central Florida, according to the advocacy group. released its seventh semi-annual Hospital Price Transparency Report in fall 2024, which examined 2,000 hospitals' compliance with the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule. The November 2024 report indicates that only 29% of hospitals in Florida were fully compliant with the federal price transparency rule, a drop from 41% in February 2024. Only 39 of 135 Florida hospitals reviewed were fully complying with the rule. 'By keeping their prices hidden, hospitals continue to block American consumers from their right to compare prices and protect themselves from overcharges,' Fisher said. 'During a patient's most vulnerable hour, all too often, hospitals require them to sign contracts accepting full financial responsibility without acknowledging any prices. Florida law clearly states that unfair and deceptive acts and practices are 'unlawful,' which include omitting material information like prices. Yet, that is exactly what Florida hospitals have been doing.' Florida Health Price Finder is a state-operated website developed by the Agency for Health Care Administration to show prices of common services. South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Court hems in Florida minors who want abortions without their parents' knowledge
A Florida appeals court took an unusual legal step when it earlier this month struck down as unconstitutional a law allowing minors to get abortions without parental consent. Florida youth have for decades been able to petition a judge for permission to have an abortion without their parents' knowledge. This May, a pregnant 17-year-old initiated one of those cases. When a lower court judge denied her the waiver for an abortion, she appealed. The Fifth District Court of Appeal took up the appeal. But instead of focusing solely on the teen's case, the court used it to weigh major constitutional questions — a move that one judge acknowledged is rare. The court's decision effectively stops most minors from being able to have abortions unless their parent gives consent, further restricting Florida's already limited pathways to abortion and setting up a possible question for the Florida Supreme Court. The move was celebrated by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and other conservatives. But abortion access advocates have decried it, saying the court went into the case with an outcome in mind and found its way to it. 'Judicial overreach doesn't even begin to describe it,' said Amy Myrick, senior counsel of U.S. litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Inviting in the AG Before the appeals court judges got all the details about the teen's case, they drafted an order asking her lawyers to answer four legal questions. The questions had nothing to do with the minor's specific circumstances but were more broadly about the judicial waiver process itself, including whether the parents of minors got due process. Then, in a move that some observers said was unusual, the court invited Florida's Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier to weigh in on the legal questions the judges raised. Uthmeier joined the case as an opponent and argued that the judicial waiver process violates parents' rights. (Usually, in the judicial waiver process, the minor makes the petition and the judge decides if the girl is 'sufficiently mature' to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy. There are normally no other outside parties involved besides the minor's lawyers.) 'When you're reaching out to do a whole bunch of stuff you don't need to do to resolve a case, it's usually because you're trying to get a big legal conclusion about it,' said Mary Ziegler, a reproductive law expert at UC Davis School of Law. Mat Staver, the chairman of the conservative anti-abortion group Liberty Counsel, said it wasn't unusual for the courts to give notice to the attorney general when a constitutional provision is being questioned, and said it was 'very appropriate' for the appeals court to do so. Uthmeier last year, while he was still Gov. Ron DeSantis' chief of staff, was the chairperson of a political committee that opposed a proposed amendment to protect abortion rights in Florida. That amendment ultimately failed in November's election. Uthmeier has also pushed against the idea of minors getting abortions without parental consent. A few months before weighing in on the Florida case, Uthmeier filed a brief encouraging the U.S. Supreme Court to reevaluate what rights minors have and what rights their parents have when it comes to abortion, arguing that there was a common law tradition of parents having rights over their children. Florida's bypass process has been used less frequently after the six-week abortion ban went into effect last year. In 2024, courts saw 130 petitions filed across the state, most of which were granted. The courts A judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal acknowledged that the court's decision to weigh in on the constitutionality of the law, rather than resolve it more simply, was unusual. The court also said that it was possibly the 'first and only' time it would be able to address the question, 'which has thus far evaded review despite being posed in an untold number of prior cases.' In a concurring opinion in the recent Fifth District case, Judge John MacIver said the court thought it was appropriate to address the constitutional questions because parents whose kids have abortions without their knowledge would not be able to challenge the law themselves since, 'by design,' the law blocks those parents from being informed. The justices' actions were primed by a move last year by the First District Court of Appeal. That court said it couldn't review abortion waiver cases because there was no party opposing the minor. 'The only opportunity for a defense of those fundamental rights came about here because the Attorney General of Florida was invited to brief as amicus and instead sought intervention,' MacIver said. Of the three judges in the Fifth District who heard the case, two were appointed by DeSantis — MacIver and Jordan Pratt, who authored the decision and used to work at a conservative religious liberty law firm that has represented anti-abortion parties. Pratt this week was nominated by President Donald Trump to a federal judgeship. The third justice, Brian Lambert, was appointed by former Gov. Rick Scott. No judge dissented. What about teens now? After the court's ruling, there are limited circumstances where minors can still use the waiver process, such as if they are the victim of child abuse, said Elizabeth Ling, an attorney with the abortion access group If/When/How. 'For the vast majority of people who are under 18 in the state of Florida, the judicial bypass or the judicial waiver process is no longer an option,' Ling said. With the ruling in place, pregnant minors in Florida's foster system find themselves in uncharted territory. Florida law prohibits the Department of Children and Families from ever authorizing an abortion — meaning that foster kids have no other option but to use the judicial waiver process if they want to terminate their pregnancy. Ling said that because the ruling leaves the avenue only for victims of child abuse, it could create a split process for foster kids. Youth who are in the system because of abuse could access the waiver process, but foster youth who are in the system for other reasons may not be able to. Ling said research shows that young people largely involve a parent with news of their pregnancy, and said when people seek otherwise, they 'have thought very deeply and carefully' about it. She said young people are now 'being forced to choose between either having the abortion or their safety and their wellness.' Florida Supreme Court The appeals court said it anticipated future Florida Supreme Court review of the question of whether the judicial waiver law complies with a parent's due process rights. If the Florida high court does hear the case, earlier precedent could mean it sides with people trying to dismantle the judicial waiver process. Last year, the Florida Supreme Court said the state constitution doesn't guarantee a right to an abortion. Ziegler said if the judicial waiver case does move to the Florida Supreme Court, it could be a way for anti-abortion advocates to argue about fetus' rights in their briefing in the hopes that justices would seize on it and include it in a ruling. If the court determines that fetuses have more rights, it could lead to further restrictions on abortion. 'They want to get on the Florida Supreme Court on personhood,' Ziegler said. Of the seven state Supreme Court justices, five have been appointed by DeSantis. Some have known anti-abortion views. Staver, the chairman of the conservative anti-abortion group Liberty Counsel, said the recent case striking down judicial waivers was 'perhaps the first step' in the direction of looking at a right to life for fetuses in the Florida Constitution — as well as affirming parental rights more broadly.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
How a Florida court took unusual steps to limit abortion access for minors
TALLAHASSEE – A Florida appeals court took an unusual legal step when it earlier this month struck down as unconstitutional a law allowing minors to get abortions without parental consent. Florida youth have for decades been able to petition a judge for permission to have an abortion without their parents' knowledge. This May, a pregnant 17-year-old initiated one of those cases. When a lower court judge denied her the waiver for an abortion, she appealed. The Fifth District Court of Appeal took up the appeal. But instead of focusing solely on the teen's case, the court used it to weigh major constitutional questions — a move that one judge acknowledged is rare. The court's decision effectively stops most minors from being able to have abortions unless their parent gives consent, further restricting Florida's already limited pathways to abortion and setting up a possible question for the Florida Supreme Court. The move was celebrated by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and other conservatives. But abortion access advocates have decried it, saying the court went into the case with an outcome in mind and found its way to it. 'Judicial overreach doesn't even begin to describe it,' said Amy Myrick, senior counsel of U.S. litigation at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Before the appeals court judges got all the details about the teen's case, they drafted an order asking her lawyers to answer four legal questions. The questions had nothing to do with the minor's specific circumstances but were more broadly about the judicial waiver process itself, including whether the parents of minors got due process. Then, in a move that some observers said was unusual, the court invited Florida's Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier to weigh in on the legal questions the judges raised. Uthmeier joined the case as an opponent and argued that the judicial waiver process violates parents' rights. (Usually, in the judicial waiver process, the minor makes the petition and the judge decides if the girl is 'sufficiently mature' to decide whether to terminate her pregnancy. There are normally no other outside parties involved besides the minor's lawyers.) 'When you're reaching out to do a whole bunch of stuff you don't need to do to resolve a case, it's usually because you're trying to get a big legal conclusion about it,' said Mary Ziegler, a reproductive law expert at UC Davis School of Law. Mat Staver, the chairman of the conservative anti-abortion group Liberty Counsel, said it wasn't unusual for the courts to give notice to the attorney general when a constitutional provision is being questioned, and said it was 'very appropriate' for the appeals court to do so. Uthmeier last year, while he was still Gov. Ron DeSantis' chief of staff, was the chairperson of a political committee that opposed a proposed amendment to protect abortion rights in Florida. That amendment ultimately failed in November's election. Uthmeier has also pushed against the idea of minors getting abortions without parental consent. A few months before weighing in on the Florida case, Uthmeier filed a brief encouraging the U.S. Supreme Court to reevaluate what rights minors have and what rights their parents have when it comes to abortion, arguing that there was a common law tradition of parents having rights over their children. Florida's bypass process has been used less frequently after the six-week abortion ban went into effect last year. In 2024, courts saw 130 petitions filed across the state, most of which were granted. A judge on the Fifth District Court of Appeal acknowledged that the court's decision to weigh in on the constitutionality of the law, rather than resolve it more simply, was unusual. The court also said that it was possibly the 'first and only' time it would be able to address the question, 'which has thus far evaded review despite being posed in an untold number of prior cases.' In a concurring opinion in the recent Fifth District case, Judge John MacIver said the court thought it was appropriate to address the constitutional questions because parents whose kids have abortions without their knowledge would not be able to challenge the law themselves since, 'by design,' the law blocks those parents from being informed. The justices' actions were primed by a move last year by the First District Court of Appeal. That court said it couldn't review abortion waiver cases because there was no party opposing the minor. 'The only opportunity for a defense of those fundamental rights came about here because the Attorney General of Florida was invited to brief as amicus and instead sought intervention,' MacIver said. Of the three judges in the Fifth District who heard the case, two were appointed by DeSantis — MacIver and Jordan Pratt, who authored the decision and used to work at a conservative religious liberty law firm that has represented anti-abortion parties. Pratt this week was nominated by President Donald Trump to a federal judgeship. The third justice, Brian Lambert, was appointed by former Gov. Rick Scott. No judge dissented. After the court's ruling, there are limited circumstances where minors can still use the waiver process, such as if they are the victim of child abuse, said Elizabeth Ling, an attorney with the abortion access group If/When/How. 'For the vast majority of people who are under 18 in the state of Florida, the judicial bypass or the judicial waiver process is no longer an option,' Ling said. With the ruling in place, pregnant minors in Florida's foster system find themselves in uncharted territory. Florida law prohibits the Department of Children and Families from ever authorizing an abortion — meaning that foster kids have no other option but to use the judicial waiver process if they want to terminate their pregnancy. Ling said that because the ruling leaves the avenue only for victims of child abuse, it could create a split process for foster kids. Youth who are in the system because of abuse could access the waiver process, but foster youth who are in the system for other reasons may not be able to. Ling said research shows that young people largely involve a parent with news of their pregnancy, and said when people seek otherwise, they 'have thought very deeply and carefully' about it. She said young people are now 'being forced to choose between either having the abortion or their safety and their wellness.' The appeals court said it anticipated future Florida Supreme Court review of the question of whether the judicial waiver law complies with a parent's due process rights. If the Florida high court does hear the case, earlier precedent could mean it sides with people trying to dismantle the judicial waiver process. Last year, the Florida Supreme Court said the state constitution doesn't guarantee a right to an abortion. Ziegler said if the judicial waiver case does move to the Florida Supreme Court, it could be a way for anti-abortion advocates to argue about fetus' rights in their briefing in the hopes that justices would seize on it and include it in a ruling. If the court determines that fetuses have more rights, it could lead to further restrictions on abortion. 'They want to get on the Florida Supreme Court on personhood,' Ziegler said. Of the seven state Supreme Court justices, five have been appointed by DeSantis. Some have known anti-abortion views. Staver, the chairman of the conservative anti-abortion group Liberty Counsel, said the recent case striking down judicial waivers was 'perhaps the first step' in the direction of looking at a right to life for fetuses in the Florida Constitution — as well as affirming parental rights more broadly.
Politico
a day ago
- Politics
- Politico
Florida's immigration crackdown week
Good morning and happy Friday. Immigration has been a top issue driving discussions and decision-making in Tallahassee this year. But the topic dominated headlines across the state this week possibly more than any other time since January. The week started with the DeSantis administration celebrating a map released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that showed Florida, more than any other state, had leveraged the help of local police to identify and remove undocumented people. And by Thursday, the state assisted with one of Florida's largest-ever raids in Tallahassee. Gov. RON DESANTIS praised the raid as a 'major bust,' while one of his spokespeople, SIERRA DEAN, joked that the blue-speckled map ICE published was the only instance the public would see the state turn blue during the governor's term. State Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER delivered an alliterative review: 'Detain. Deport. Deliver for the American people.' More than 30 people were arrested Thursday of about 100 detained, reported USA Today Network — Florida and Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald. Tampa's Homeland Security Investigation's unit said on X that some had previously been deported or had criminal backgrounds, but others who were questioned appeared not to have been living here illegally. It was all the latest instance of Florida working to carry out President DONALD TRUMP's agenda, especially when it comes to illegal immigration. Last month, ICE and local law enforcement arrested more than 1,100 people during a six-day crackdown. But it hasn't been all smooth sailing. Though DeSantis signed a sweeping illegal immigration bill into law earlier this year, a portion of the law that makes it illegal for undocumented people to enter Florida has been blocked in court. On Thursday, one of Uthmeier's lawyers faced questions in Miami over the state AG potentially being held in contempt of court over that law. While Uthmeier wasn't present for the hearing, U.S. District Judge KATHLEEN WILLIAMS — an Obama-era appointee — sharply criticized him for comments he made that seemed to undermine her order. Williams raised not only a letter Uthmeier wrote, but news interviews. She loosely quoted one from Newsmax, saying there were 'buckets' more to choose from, where Uthmeier said he would not 'rubber stamp' Williams' orders or 'bow down and withhold my oath.' He further argued that a judge 'can't order people around who are not under the jurisdiction of the court.' Uthmeier's attorney, JESSE PANUCCIO urged the judge to focus on the letter alone. He argued Uthmeier was merely stating his opinion on her ruling without undermining the court's orders — pointing out that arrests haven't occurred under the new law since Uthmeier first notified law enforcement of the block. As the judge weighs her decision, what jumps out about Uthmeier's public comments on the judiciary is how much they mirror those of Trump and his allies, who've argued that judges aren't allowed to control the power of the executive branch as questions swirl over whether they'll openly defy multiple orders to halt the president's agenda. And remember: It remains an open question whether Trump will get behind Uthmeier's 2026 election or select a handpicked alternative. WHERE'S RON? Gov. DeSantis is holding a press conference in Jupiter with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... 'FREE KILL' VETOED — 'DeSantis on Thursday vetoed a bill that would have expanded malpractice claims filed against doctors, saying the measure would lead to a spike in frivolous cases and an exodus of medical professionals from the state,' reports POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian. 'Florida's current malpractice law bans adults and parents from claiming pain and suffering in a malpractice suit, instead only allowing for consideration of economic damages. FL HB6017 (25R) sought to remove the ban on pain and suffering, which DeSantis said would open the floodgates for more lawsuits, driving up malpractice insurance claims and compelling droves of doctors to leave the state.' GOV ON UF PRESIDENT CONTROVERSY — 'DeSantis gave a tepid response Thursday to the University of Florida's decision to hire University of Michigan President Santa Ono — as key conservatives push to quash the move over Ono's past support of diversity, equity and inclusion programs,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'Florida's GOP governor acknowledged statements from Ono that have triggered Republican blowback made him 'cringe.' But he expressed faith in the University of Florida trustee board's determination that the school leader 'reached the limit on campus leftism.'' The governor said: 'People are saying, 'Well, you know, you could have woke here.' No, that's not going to happen, because if he were to go in and do that, he will lose his job in Florida.' SENTENCED — 'An Everglades scientist found guilty of contempt of court will surrender in July to serve a 10-day jail sentence, according to a judge's order issued Thursday,' reports Jenny Staletovich of WLRN. 'Tom Van Lent was sentenced to time behind bars after the Everglades Foundation accused him of stealing trade secrets three years ago. Van Lent denied stealing protected documents, but a judge found him guilty of criminal contempt after he disobeyed an order to stop deleting information from his computers. Van Lent said he was erasing personal documents.' — 'Chamber summit: Amid controversy, Casey DeSantis pitches Hope Florida to business community,' reports Drew Wilson of Florida Politics. PENINSULA AND BEYOND TODAY — Florida A&M University's board of directors will meet at 2 p.m. to talk about the compensation for incoming president MARVA JOHNSON, reports Tarah Jean of the Tallahassee Democrat. They've already agreed on a salary range of $450,000 to $750,000. — 'St. Cloud prevents Pride Month proclamation on Pulse anniversary through blanket 'pause,'' reports Natalia Jaramillo of the Orlando Sentinel. — 'Dynasty city: How three Miami families may extend their decades of political power,' by the Miami Herald's Douglas Hanks and Tess Riski. ...HURRICANE HOLE... TALLYING THE BILL — The Miami Herald has estimated the cost of putting together hurricane kits ahead of this year's season, including water, non-perishable food and a weather radio. STORM SAVINGS — 'Squabbling legislators have kept the Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday from landing as the new windstorm season starts June 1, but a new state website shows how homeowners can save even bigger bucks,' reports Anne Geggis of the Palm Beach post. 'The website … explains how hurricane-proofing a home not only fortifies against Mother Nature's wrath, it could also soften the hit from paying windstorm insurance premiums if homeowners follow certain steps.' … As for the hurricane preparedness tax holiday: DeSantis thinks it should be reinstated, he said during a press conference Thursday in Fort Myers. But as Gray Rohrer from USA Today Network — Florida noted, with hurricane season starting Sunday it won't happen ahead of the peak storm period as it usually does, given that the budget is still in limbo. — 'Vital hurricane hunter missions scrapped due to aircraft issues, cap on crew flight hours,' reports Kimberly Miller of the Palm Beach Post. CAMPAIGN MODE LOCAL CANDIDATE BACKING — Ruth's List Florida, which backs Democratic women who support abortion rights, has released its endorsement of candidates running for local office: MIRA TANNA for Orlando City Council District 3, KYANDRA DARLING for Florida House District 62, LAURA DOMINGUEZ for re-election to the Miami Beach City Commission, and state Rep. LAVON BRACY DAVIS for Florida Senate District 15. — 'Maxwell Frost backs LaVon Bracy Davis in the race to succeed Geraldine Thompson,' reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. — 'Conservative social media personality threatens Lakeland with legal action,' by Sara-Megan Walsh of the Lakeland Ledger. TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP IMPERSONATOR — 'Federal authorities are investigating a clandestine effort to impersonate White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, according to people familiar with the matter, after an unknown individual reached out to prominent Republicans and business executives pretending to be her,' reports Josh Dawsey of the Wall Street Journal. 'In recent weeks, senators, governors, top U.S. business executives and other well-known figures have received text messages and phone calls from a person who claimed to be the chief of staff, the people familiar with the messages said.' — 'Todd Chrisley released from Florida prison, Julie from Kentucky. What to know about Trump pardon,' by USA Today Network — Florida. — 'Trump pardons Jupiter shark divers who destroyed a fisherman's longline, released catch,' by Hannah Phillips of the Palm Beach Post. DATELINE D.C. ETHICS SPOTLIGHT — 'A congressional watchdog office has found reason to believe that Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick requested community project funding, also known as earmarks, on behalf of a for-profit entity — a potential violation of House rules,' reports POLITICO's Hailey Fuchs and Nicholas Wu. 'The findings of a new report made public Thursday by the Office of Congressional Conduct — which reviews outside ethics complaints against House members and recommends further action to the House Ethics Committee — builds on the allegations the Florida Democrat has been facing since 2023.' HOPE FLORIDA SCRUTINY HEADED TO DC — Sen. RICK SCOTT told reporters during a press conference in Pensacola that Florida Chief Deputy Attorney General JOHN GUARD — whom Trump nominated as judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida — would face questions about his involvement in Hope Florida during confirmation hearings, report Jim Little and Edward Bunch III of the Pensacola News Journal. DISTURBING CONDITIONS — 'A member of Congress who made an unannounced visit to the Krome North Service Processing Center in southwest Miami-Dade County said migrants in deportation proceedings are being subjected to overcrowded and inhumane conditions where they are forced to carry out bodily functions without privacy,' reports Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald. LATEST STOCK TRADES — 'Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and his wife, Erika Donalds, bought or sold between $8,008 and $120,000 worth of stock on April 10, a week after Trump's tariff declaration, according to a NOTUS review of new congressional financial disclosures,' David Levinthal reported. — 'Congress could kill rooftop solar tax credits used by Florida homeowners,' reports Emily Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times. ALL ABOARD — Rep. GREG STEUBE (R-Fla.) has introduced legislation that would require the DC Metro's governing body to be renamed Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA) and Metrorail the 'Trump Train' — or otherwise lose federal funding. ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Kaylee Tuck … former Rep. Dan Miller … Marco Rubio alum Rob Noel … former state Rep. Julio Gonzalez … former state Rep. Dwight Dudley … (Saturday) Elizabeth Dos Santos of Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart's office ... former state Sen. Charlie Dean … former state Sen. Daryl Jones … (Sunday) state Sen. Danny Burgess … Tallahassee Democrat's Jeff Burlew … Lyndee Rose of LOTUS Strategies … journalist Jake Stofan of Action News Jax.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Courting controversy: Florida's attorney general is no stranger to conflict
James Uthmeier is no shrinking violet. Florida's new attorney general — currently facing a potential contempt charge from a federal judge in Miami — is no stranger to lawsuits and investigations. Uthmeier, appointed this year as Florida's top prosecutor by Gov. Ron DeSantis, has been at the center of some of the biggest political controversies to hit Florida in recent years. Prior to assuming office in February, Uthmeier, as one of DeSantis' top political and policy advisors, helped coordinate flights that carried migrants from the Southern border to liberal communities. He led campaigns to defeat marijuana and abortion access at the ballot. And he was involved in a Medicaid settlement that steered $10 million away from state coffers and into a charity created to support the first lady's Hope Florida program. The 37-year-old Republican, who notably managed DeSantis' presidential campaign last year, is leaning into the attention and notoriety as he campaigns to keep the job the governor just gave him. READ MORE: Miami judge delays whether to hold Florida attorney general in contempt of court Uthmeier kicked off his tenure as attorney general by announcing a criminal investigation into Andrew and Tristan Tate, controversial, far-right influencers who were charged with human trafficking in Romania in 2022. The investigation opened after the siblings landed in Florida this February. Uthmeier said on X that he had directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to execute search warrants and issue subpoenas to the Tate brothers. 'Florida has zero tolerance for human trafficking and violence against women. If any of these alleged crimes trigger Florida jurisdiction, we will hold them accountable,' Uthmeier wrote on X. Uthmeier has made efforts to combat LGBTQ activism and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, launching a lawsuit against Target and pressuring a private gym into reversing a policy that allowed transgender women in the women's locker rooms. Uthmeier cited HB 1521, which was signed by DeSantis in 2023 and makes it a crime in Florida to use a restroom that does not match a person's sex assigned at birth. Similarly, he launched the nation's first office of parental rights to 'provide justice to parents and families whose rights have been violated' by governments or institutions. 'This first-in-the-nation office is a mechanism for parents and families to seek justice where local governments and school systems seek to 'treat,' indoctrinate, or collect data from students without parental involvement,' Uthmeier said in a press release. 'This new initiative is another way we are making Florida the best place to raise a family.' Uthmeier was elevated to attorney general thanks to a political domino chain set off when President Donald Trump nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida to be his secretary of state. DeSantis replaced Rubio with then-Attorney General Ashley Moody. Then he appointed Uthmeier, at the time his chief of staff, to replace Moody and serve out the remainder of her term, which ends in January of 2027. Uthmeier has already announced plans to campaign to win a full term as attorney general in the November 2026 election. Just a few days after taking his oath of office and being sworn in, Uthmeier officially kicked off his 2026 campaign in March. He launched the Friends of James Uthmeier political committee. Since taking on his new role, Uthmeier has kept busy, cracking down on Snapchat predators, convicting undocumented immigrants and taking legal action against a variety of organizations. With immigration policies at the forefront of national controversy, Uthmeier has been a key player in Florida's enforcement of its immigration laws. Earlier in May Uthmeier made it clear he would 'not tell state law enforcement agencies to obey a federal court order halting immigration arrests under a new state law' despite the judge who issued the order threatening to hold him in contempt of court. He said he does not believe an attorney general should be held in contempt of court for what he says is 'respecting the rule of law,' the Miami Herald previously reported. In March, Uthmeier threatened to punish Fort Myers City Council members for rejecting a proposed immigration partnership with the federal government. The partnership program, known as 287(g), allows ICE 'to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of aliens who undermine the safety of our nation's communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws,' according to ICE's website. Uthmeier told the City Council members that their decision to not enroll in the program 'constitutes a serious and direct violation' of a Florida law that bans sanctuary cities — localities that limit collaboration on immigration enforcement in a broad variety of ways, the Herald previously reported. And in 2022, Uthmeier found himself at the center of controversy while serving as the governor's chief of staff for his involvement in an operation to fly nearly 50 Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, an island in Massachusetts. The DeSantis administration tapped into $12 million that the Legislature provided to transport undocumented immigrants from Florida, the Herald previously reported. Several of the migrants had legal status in the U.S. as asylum seekers and said they were tricked into taking the charter flights with false promises of jobs and other aid. It was also found that Uthmeier had used his personal cellphone in planning the operation. Text messages released showed Uthmeier communicating with Larry Keefe, a former Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney now serving as Florida's public safety czar, who was in Texas coordinating the migrant flights. Over a week before the first flight, Keefe texted Uthmeier that he was 'back out here.' 'Very good,' Uthmeier texted. 'You have my full support. Call anytime.' The Bexar County Sheriff's Office in Texas launched a criminal investigation, ultimately turning its case over to local prosecutors, who have not publicly discussed their handling of the matter. No charges have been filed. Uthmeier's positions and actions on immigration enforcement have continued to put him in the spotlight. On Thursday afternoon, Uthmeier faced a contempt of court hearing in a politically fraught immigration case before a Miami federal judge who could fine him or send him to jail. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams filed a temporary restraining order in April to stop enforcement of Florida Senate Bill 4C, which became effective in February and makes it a crime for immigrants to enter Florida after illegally crossing into the United States. Williams previously found Uthmeier violated her temporary restraining order after learning Florida Highway Patrol officers had arrested more than a dozen people – including a U.S. citizen – for illegally entering the state under the new misdemeanor law. Uthmeier also issued a memo to law enforcement agencies arguing that Williams did not have the authority to block them from enforcing the law because they had not been named as parties to the lawsuit over which she is presiding. The judge put off a decision on whether to hold Uthmeier in contempt on Thursday, but grilled his attorneys over his position on her rulings. Uthmeier's fight with a federal judge is far from his only public feud. Uthmeier's involvement with a $67 million Medicaid settlement that steered $10 million to a charity created to support Hope Florida — a program by Florida's first lady to help get Floridians off of government aid — has drawn accusations of criminal activity. In April, Rep. Alex Andrade, the Pensacola Republican who launched an investigation into Hope Florida, said he believed Uthmeier had worked with the charity's lawyer, Jeff Aaron, to illegally siphon the millions away from state coffers and into his own political committee. The foundation split the $10 million between two other nonprofits. Those two groups then gave $8.5 million to the Keep Florida Clean political committee controlled by Uthmeier. The committee was created to defeat Amendment 3, the failed ballot initiative that tried to legalize recreational marijuana. Text messages obtained and released by Andrade show Uthmeier reached out to the leader of one of the groups that received a $5 million grant prior to her applying. In an interview released Wednesday, Uthmeier said the allegations surrounding the misuse of funds is all a 'smear campaign and totally false.' Without getting into specifics, he said that his efforts to campaign against the marijuana amendment were all above board and in keeping with laws regulating political committees and so-called 'social-welfare' 501(c)(4) non-profits, which can spend on political issues without disclosing their donors. 'There's nothing that stops outside entities from working with other C4s and non-profits to fight in an issue campaign,' Uthmeier said. 'The rules, you know, you can't use some of those funds for a candidate campaign. But we weren't out there promoting a candidate. We were fighting against a harmful ideology.' Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.
