Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that his office has issued an investigative subpoena to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as part of an inquiry into whether the organization received financial contributions or other support from Cuba and China in violation of state law.
The subpoena, issued under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and state laws governing the solicitation of funds, seeks documents related to the organization’s fundraising activities, international delegations and financial disclosures involving Florida donors.
“Floridians who give to organizations operating in our state have a right to know where that money comes from and how it is used,” Uthmeier said in a video announcement.
Uthmeier said investigators are examining whether DSA accepted contributions or support from foreign sources of concern, including the Cuban and Chinese governments, and whether its fundraising practices complied with Florida’s transparency requirements.
The investigation includes recent DSA delegations to Cuba, where national leaders and members of the organization’s National Political Committee met with Cuban government officials, as well as a separate delegation to China. Investigators are also reviewing travel fund solicitations that sought tens of thousands of dollars to finance the international trips and related activities involving DSA chapters in Florida.
“Our laws prohibit accepting contributions from foreign sources of concern,” Uthmeier said. “They require organizations to be honest and transparent about how money is raised and used.”
The attorney general said the investigation will examine whether the organization’s fundraising from Florida donors was fully transparent and lawful, including how contributions were collected and used in connection with international travel.
In a social media post accompanying the announcement, Uthmeier reiterated that his office was examining foreign contributions tied to the organization’s international delegations and travel fund solicitations.
“We will follow the facts. We will enforce the law, and we will not allow foreign adversaries to influence Florida through the back door of nonprofit fundraising,” Uthmeier said.
