According to a new report, Florida officials diverted resources intended for disaster preparedness and response to construct the Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention jail under the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis. Many of the $20 million in contracts analyzed by TPM were awarded to DeSantis donors or political allies, and the contracts themselves mysteriously disappeared from the Florida Department of Financial Services website. This alleged misappropriation of funds has drawn strong criticism from Democrats, especially as the peak of hurricane season approaches. Furthermore, it was revealed that a 15-year-old was detained at the jail, despite prior claims of housing only adults, adding fuel to the controversy surrounding the facility.
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Rachel Morin’s five children have filed a lawsuit against their grandmother and aunt, alleging that they have withheld approximately $54,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign and other donations intended to support the children after their mother’s murder. The suit, filed in Harford County Circuit Court, accuses the grandmother and aunt of fraud and unjust enrichment. This is a second attempt by the children’s legal representatives to recover the funds; a previous suit was dismissed in February. The lawsuit comes after Victor Martinez-Hernandez was recently convicted of Morin’s murder.
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New York City Comptroller Brad Lander alleges that $80 million in federal aid, allocated for migrant housing, was illegally withdrawn from the city’s bank account by the Trump administration. This action, characterized as “highway robbery” by Lander, reportedly involved the rescinding of funds already paid to the city by FEMA. The Trump administration claims the money was misspent on luxury hotels and used by “deep state activists.” The city is exploring legal options to recover the funds, and the situation raises concerns about the legality of such funding freezes.
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John Q. Hosedrinker