Florida attorney general subpoenas Democratic Socialists over possible foreign funding
Attorney General James Uthmeier is examining DSA trips to Cuba and China and fundraising for them, and the group says it has no comment.
Florida James Uthmeier, a Republican, announced on Tuesday, Nov. 10, that his office had issued a to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Uthmeier is probing whether the group took donations or backing from "foreign sources of concern," including Cuba and China, and whether its Florida fundraising was transparent and lawful. The subpoena rests on Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and its laws on soliciting funds.
Uthmeier said the review covers DSA delegations to Cuba and a delegation to China, and appeals for travel money that sought tens of thousands of dollars. It comes a week after elections in which DSA-backed candidates won seats nationwide. A DSA spokesperson said the group was aware of the situation and had no comment.
HuffPost reports Uthmeier did not directly accuse DSA of violating state law, and Newsweek reports he has not publicly detailed specific allegations. The Daily Signal reports that he later told Fox News host Sean Hannity there was evidence DSA received funding and "things of value" from "enemies," including Cuba and China. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a DSA member, said she was not familiar with the probe but said Florida had not earned the benefit of the doubt on politically targeted attacks.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida would hold DSA accountable if it is taking foreign money from communist countries.
- 40DSA members on the October 2025 Cuba delegation, per HuffPostHuffPost
- tens of thousands of dollarssought in DSA travel fund solicitations, per UthmeierHuffPost
- more than 100 seatswon by DSA-backed candidates in the midterm elections, per HuffPostHuffPost
- 48 percentvote share for DSA member Angie Nixon in Florida's Senate race, per BreitbartBreitbart News
- At least six delegationssent by DSA to China, Cuba and Venezuela since 2021, as the NCRI report claims, per The BlazeThe Blaze
Three sides of the story
14 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from liberal outlets
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Liberal1 outlet
Probe lands a week after DSA's midterm wins
HuffPost leads with the timing. The subpoena comes a week after DSA candidates "notched major wins" in the midterms, and the outlet calls it "the first major salvo" against the group since. It notes that Uthmeier himself narrowly beat a Democratic challenger and that Florida is one of the few states that held up for Republicans.
HuffPost reports that Uthmeier named Cuba and China, pointed to DSA's October 2025 Cuba delegation of 40 members and a China trip, and "did not directly accuse" the group of violating state law. A DSA spokesperson declined to comment. HuffPost quotes Republican Rep. Kat Cammack calling the probe "a very logical step."
It adds Cammack's point that no DSA-backed candidate won in Florida, where candidate Angie Nixon lost to Sen. Ashley Moody by two points.
Center1 outlet
Subpoena announced, specific allegations not yet detailed
Newsweek puts the subpoena and the Cuba and China funding in its headline and first paragraph. Its headline describes the Cuba and China ties as "alleged." The short report, tagged as breaking news with updates to follow, says Uthmeier announced on Tuesday that his office issued the subpoena as part of an investigation into foreign contributions.
It quotes him saying the probe looks at contributions "tied to their delegations and travel fund solicitations." It also quotes his statement on X: "Florida law requires transparency." Newsweek writes that Uthmeier has not publicly described the particular accusations or named anyone accused of breaking Florida law.
It says it has reached out to both DSA and Uthmeier by email for comment.
Conservative12 outlets
Florida targets DSA's alleged funding from adversaries
The Daily Signal and Post Millennial quote Uthmeier's announcement at length. The Daily Signal adds that he told Fox News host Sean Hannity there was evidence DSA received funding and "things of value" from "enemies," and called it a "national security issue." Post Millennial's headline carries Ocasio-Cortez's reaction, "politically targeted attack," and the text has her saying she does not know Florida law.
Breitbart's headline says "possible illegal funding from China." It notes that Nixon won 48 percent of the vote in the Senate race and recalls DSA leader Ahmed Husain's earlier praise of China. The Blaze's "From Cuba with love" cites a February report by the Network Contagion Research Institute.
It also quotes DeSantis saying that if DSA is "raking in foreign money from communist countries," Florida "will hold the DSA accountable."
- The Post Millennial: Florida AG subpoenas DSA over alleged illegal foreign contributions—AOC calls it 'politically targeted attack'
- The Daily Signal: Florida AG Subpoenas DSA Over Alleged Funding From China and Cuba
- Breitbart News: Florida Subpoenas Democratic Socialists of America over Possible Illegal Funding from China
- The Blaze: From Cuba with love: Florida is investigating DSA's alleged funding by America's adversaries
Which side made the stronger case?
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All sources: 17 articles from 14 outlets
Liberal (2)
- HuffPost: ‘McCarthyism, Plain And Simple’: Democrats Unimpressed By Florida’s DSA Gambit
- HuffPost: Florida Probing Democratic Socialists of America Over Foreign Contributions
Center (1)
Conservative (14)
- Breitbart News: Florida Subpoenas Democratic Socialists of America over Possible Illegal Funding from China
- Fox News: Florida AG subpoenas DSA over potential illegal funding from Cuba and China
- Just the News: Florida attorney general subpoenas Democratic Socialists of America over alleged foreign donations
- Just the News: Florida attorney general subpoenas Democratic Socialists of America over alleged foreign donations
- RedState: Florida’s AG Just Tightened the Screws on the Democratic Socialists of America
- The Blaze: From Cuba with love: Florida is investigating DSA's alleged funding by America's adversaries
- The Daily Signal: Florida AG Subpoenas DSA Over Alleged Funding From China and Cuba
- The Daily Wire: Look Who Radical Socialists Are Cozying Up To For Power In America
- The Daily Wire: Communist Getaways On Whose Dime? What Democratic Socialists Must Hand Over
- The Epoch Times: Florida Attorney General Subpoenas Democratic Socialists of America
- The Post Millennial: Florida AG subpoenas DSA over alleged illegal foreign contributions—AOC calls it 'politically targeted attack'
- The Washington Times: A socialist group gaining power in Washington is now under scrutiny over Cuba, China funding
- Townhall: Florida's Attorney General Just Announced a Huge Move Against Democratic Socialists of America
- Washington Examiner: ‘China is not our enemy’: Inside the DSA’s foreign travel now in Florida’s crosshairs
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