A Central Florida lawyer and Gov. Ron DeSantis ally has found himself at the center of the fracas surrounding Hope Florida, the DeSantis administration’s controversial effort to get state residents off welfare and Medicaid.
Jeff Aaron, attorney for Hope Florida’s charitable arm, also holds another high-profile post closer to home, as general counsel for the agency that runs the Orlando International Airport. The DeSantis-controlled board that oversees that agency unexpectedly broke ties with its legal counsel and handed the job to Aaron in January.
The twin roles have boosted Aaron’s profile since he launched a new law firm last September along with another politically plugged-in lawyer, Mayanne Downs, Orlando’s longtime city attorney. But the attention hasn’t always been to Aaron’s liking.
In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, he called a state House effort to probe Hope Florida — an initiative led by first lady Casey DeSantis — and the foundation he represents “a politically motivated witch hunt.”
The sharpest controversy has arisen over a $10 million donation the Hope Florida Foundation received as part of a state lawsuit settlement with a Medicaid managed care company. The foundation then provided $5 million grants to two nonprofit organizations, which in turn contributed $8.5 million to a political committee opposing last year’s failed marijuana legalization ballot initiative .
Hope Florida chairman: ‘Mistakes were made.’ Lawmakers still want answers
Defeating the marijuana amendment was a key political objective for DeSantis. But critics have suggested the lawsuit settlement should have been spent on Medicaid, and that any scheme to pass money through the Hope Florida Foundation for political purposes would have been illegal.
More broadly, they have raised questions about Hope Florida’s track record at steering Floridians off public assistance, for which it has made lofty but undocumented claims, and the foundation’s seemingly shoddy internal procedures, some of which it has acknowledged, including a failure to file required tax forms.
State Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, who is leading the House’s investigation, has said he wants answers from Aaron. He’s asked him to testify next week before his House subcommittee.
“This is looking more and more like a conspiracy to use Medicaid money to pay for campaign activity,” he told reporters in Tallahassee.
Aaron said his legal advice has been above board, and he had nothing to do with the lawsuit settlement or what happened to the money after it left the Hope Florida Foundation.
The two groups receiving foundation grants sent money to a political committee chaired by DeSantis aide James Uthmeier, who is now Attorney General. Aaron said he first interacted with the foundation on Oct. 12 and merely reviewed the grants, which he said were legal.
“I am extremely confident no one broke any laws,” he said. “I have never talked to Uthmeier, the governor or the first lady about Hope Florida. This is a politically motivated witch hunt.”
He added he hasn’t been formally asked to testify and is willing to produce any public records he has.
As the aviation authority’s general counsel, Aaron earns $595 an hour, according to an engagement letter.
Aaron and Downs launched the DownsAaron firm in September upon leaving the powerhouse legal and lobbying firm GrayRobinson. The next month, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority issued a request for legal services, even though its then-general counsel, Daniel J. Gerber of the firm RumbergerKirk, was in the middle of a five-year legal contract.
Five governor-appointed members sit on the airport authority’s board, along with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Jerry Demings.
Aaron said he didn’t have any conversations with board members about putting out the request. He said his firm monitors requests for proposals from government agencies and decided to apply.
The decision to reconsider law firms appeared to befuddle a few board members in public meetings leading up to the decision. Dyer questioned in November why a change was needed when no one seemed to be dissatisfied with RumbergerKirk’s services, noting that he was feeling “discomfort” with the process.
John Evans, who left the board in December, voiced his support for RumbergerKirk and also wondered why the board was considering switching firms.
“This is not a lemonade stand, right,” he said. “This is an enormous enterprise. … As far as I can tell, we’ve been running really well.”
Board Chairman Tim Weisheyer said the request was put out as part of a “holistic” review of the airport’s legal services. He didn’t respond to messages seeking a further explanation for the change.
DownsAaron and RumbergerKirk were the only firms to submit proposals. RumbergerKirk withdrew its proposal on Jan. 15. That same day, a five-year contract was awarded to DownsAaron with a unanimous vote.
Aaron’s bio submitted to the aviation authority touted his DeSantis ties, noting that he “provides regular support to and counsel for the Executive Office of the Governor, assisting in legal analysis, political support, and strategic planning.”
His accomplishments included successfully representing DeSantis in federal court against Andrew Warren, the former Tampa state prosecutor who argued he was unfairly suspended from office by the governor. Aaron also provided legal support for DeSantis’ presidential bid, managing “complex operational and organizational matters including travel and ground logistics, aviation and charter compliance, scheduling, and disclosures.”
Aaron is married to Chelsea Aaron, who serves as DeSantis’ director of appointments.
In its proposal to GOAA, DownsAaron said it would bolster its expertise for the new contract by engaging Anderson & Kreiger LLP, a firm that works with airports across the country. It also reported it would be supported by Endow Law, an Orlando boutique firm with experience representing airports.