TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) - There is now a criminal investigation into a $10 million donation disappearing from Hope Florida.

This comes after lawmakers ended their investigation last month.

The state attorney’s office in Tallahassee wouldn’t release documents related to Hope Florida on Tuesday because they are “part of an open, ongoing investigation.”

It comes a month after a House subcommittee halted its investigation into Hope Florida. Lawmakers were looking into a $10 million donation that found its way to political committees opposing last year’s recreational marijuana amendment.

The House investigation ended abruptly when representatives of the groups receiving the money didn’t show up to answer questions about it.

The Hope Florida Foundation, which is the charity arm of First Lady Casey DeSantis’ welfare-assistance program, hasn’t filed its taxes with the IRS.

The legislature also wasn’t notified of the Medicaid settlement reached around the time the $10 million donation was made.

Subcommittee chair Alex Andrade told the Gray Florida Capital Bureau he turned over the committee’s findings to police several weeks ago.

State Attorney Jack Campbell replied “no comment” when asked about the investigation Tuesday.

Governor Ron DeSantis defended Hope Florida when asked about the investigation during a news conference in Tampa.

“I can tell you this is a very successful program. Lives have changed dramatically. I think everything that’s been thrown at it has been pure politics,” Gov. DeSantis said.

A spokesman for Attorney General James Uthmeier said the office hasn’t received any inquiries from the state attorney as of Tuesday afternoon.