Florida Corruption Scandal

Garrett Shanley of the Independent Florida Alligator, the student newspaper of the University of Florida, reported that when former senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) took over the presidency of the University of Florida, he “channeled millions” to his Republican allies and to secretive contracts. The spending has prompted Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to call on the state university’s Board of Governors to investigate the spending.

In 17 months he more than tripled spending from his office. for example, $633,000 in travel expenses during his first full fiscal year, and under former president Fuchs, the travel expenses for that office averaged $28,000.

Most of the siphoned money went to his former aides and political friends, most of whom continued to live and work outside the state. When former UF President Ken Fuchs left in his last year, the personnel expenses were just over $3 million. And in Sasse’s full fiscal year, they totaled $7.5 million.

Sasse was appointed in November 2022 in an opaque hiring process and stepped down unexpectedly in July, citing “family” issues. Vivienne Serret of The Independent Alligator reported that DeSantis allies on the Board of Trustees forced him out.