Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell says her office is reviewing information about whether money at the center of the Hope Florida controversy was spent in Central Florida, as she pushes back against renewed speculation that Gov. Ron DeSantis could remove her from office.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orange-Osceola State Attorney Monique Worrell says her office is taking a preliminary look at information connected to the Hope Florida controversy, adding a new potential investigation to an issue already under intense scrutiny in Tallahassee.

Worrell said she directed her staff last week to examine information indicating that some of the disputed Hope Florida money may have been spent in the Central Florida media market.

“I had received information that some of the funds misappropriated were spent in the media market here in Central Florida and that we should look into it,” Worrell said.

Asked whether she has formally opened an investigation, Worrell described it as a “potential investigation” and declined to provide details.

“I am looking at information that has been sent to my office,” she said.

Worrell says timing of removal rumor is concerning

The development comes as Worrell says she received a call Tuesday night from someone she considers a credible source warning that her removal from office was imminent.

Worrell would not identify the caller but said the person even provided details about who could replace her. She noted that a similar warning preceded her 2023 suspension by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Worrell directly connected the timing of the new speculation with her office’s interest in Hope Florida.

“The fact that we just talked last week about Hope, Florida and what could have happened here and the fact that we need to look into it further made it equally concerning,” Worrell said.

Asked whether she believed the removal speculation was a distraction from Hope Florida, Worrell responded: “I’m not suggesting it. I’m outright saying it.”

Worrell offered no evidence during the news conference establishing that the governor or attorney general generated the removal rumors because of a potential Hope Florida investigation.

Uthmeier says he has no knowledge of removal

Attorney General James Uthmeier addressed the speculation, saying he had no knowledge that DeSantis was preparing to suspend or remove Worrell.

His comments came as reporters questioned him about circulating rumors involving the state attorney.

Worrell also fired back at Uthmeier’s criticism of her performance as state attorney, pointing to her office’s conviction rates and declining crime statistics in Central Florida.

“We are doing our job, sir, and we’re doing it very well,” Worrell said.

Hope Florida scrutiny expands

Worrell’s announcement is significant because it potentially extends scrutiny of the Hope Florida controversy into Central Florida’s criminal justice system.

For now, however, she is stopping short of announcing a formal criminal investigation or identifying which transactions, organizations or advertisements her office is examining.

She said there are details she cannot disclose while her office reviews the information.

“I have been completely transparent with you and when there’s something that I can say, I will say it,” Worrell said.

The result leaves two politically explosive questions unresolved: whether Worrell’s review develops into a formal Hope Florida investigation — and whether the twice-elected state attorney will still be in office to conduct it.