Treasury watchdog probing DeSantis’ potential misuse of COVID funds to transport migrants

The U.S. Treasury Department’s office of inspector general is probing whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis improperly used COVID relief aid to pay for migrant flights, according to a letter to lawmakers from the agency. Deputy Inspector General Richard Delmar wrote to Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Markey and five House members that the agency will “review the allowability” of COVID aid to states related to immigration, and if Florida specifically used interest on funds it received for “immigration activities.” DeSantis authorized the flying of dozens of migrants to Massachusetts in September. The governor, a potential GOP presidential candidate, said he’d pay for the flights in the state’s recent budget, as the Washington Post reported. But the money instead came from the interest Florida earned on funds it got under the last federal stimulus package, the Post reports.