TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The criminal investigation involving the fundraising arm of the Hope Florida initiative is ramping up.

The Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald are reporting prosecutors in Tallahassee are convening a grand jury and subpoenas have already been issued for witnesses to appear.

Following their initial reporting, the GOP-led Florida House started an investigation. Republican State Rep. Alex Andrade led the committee’s inquiry into the handling of a $10 million donation from the Hope Florida Foundation, the fundraising unit of the Hope Florida welfare charity, spearheaded by Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis.

“Everyone involved in this point realizes this is a real issue and if this occurred in any other context, people would already be being investigated,” Andrade said.

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