The Florida Department of Children and Families has told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper to stop alleged intimidation in reporting a story about a nonprofit linked to the state's first lady, Casey DeSantis.

The department, the head of which is appointed by GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, sent a cease-and-desist letter Friday to the newspaper, claiming that the outlet's Tallahassee reporter had threatened and coerced two foster families "to make negative statements about Hope Florida for his reporting, and/or to dissuade them from accepting future assistance."

“Cease and desist the above-described intimidation of these families,” the letter reads.

"After hurricanes Helene and Milton, these foster families had home restoration work admirably gifted to them by the Hope Florida Foundation to restore their living conditions so that they could continue to care for their foster children in their homes," the department explained regarding the assistance that the families received.

Orlando Sentinel Executive Editor Roger Simmons said the department's portrayal of the reporter's actions was “completely false,” the Los Angeles Times reported. The story, which has yet to be published, was investigating grants distributed by the welfare nonprofit Hope Florida to organizations, families, and individuals.

“We stand by our stories and reject the state’s attempt to chill free speech and encroach on our First Amendment right to report on an important issue,” Simmons said.

An investigation was opened by prosecutors in Tallahassee in relation to the Hope Florida Foundation. Last month, 2nd Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jack Campbell’s office confirmed that there is “an open, on-going investigation.”

Republican state legislators have been probing Hope Florida and its nonprofit foundation, which gave $10 million from a state Medicaid settlement to two nonprofits. Those two nonprofits gave millions of dollars to a political committee, which was chaired by Ron DeSantis' then-chief of staff, which campaigned against the referendum on recreational marijuana that ultimately failed.

State Rep. Alex Andrade (R) said in April that the investigation he began into Hope Florida was wrapped up and that he would allow the rest of the probe to be conducted by “the FBI and Department of Justice.” 

However, there is no public evidence that the DOJ or FBI are conducting an investigation. Andrade alleged that the money sent from the foundation to the nonprofits and then to the political committees is “conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud.”

The governor dismissed the investigation into Hope Florida as politically motivated against his wife, whose signature initiative is with the nonprofit, and whom he has suggested as his potential successor after his last term ends in 2026.