Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that his office had issued an investigative subpoena to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The subpoena examines whether the organization, including its Florida chapters, accepted contributions or other support from foreign sources of concern and whether its fundraising from Florida donors complied with state transparency requirements.
Uthmeier stated in a video posted to social media that the subpoena was issued under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and laws governing the solicitation of funds. In the statement, “Floridians who give to organizations operating in our state have a right to know where that money comes from and how it is used. Today, my office issued an investigative subpoena to the Democratic Socialists of America under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and our laws governing the solicitation of funds,” he said.
“We are examining whether DSA accepted contributions or support from foreign sources of concern, including the regimes in Cuba and China, and whether its fundraising from Florida donors has been fully transparent and lawful. This includes scrutiny of recent DSA delegations to Cuba, where national leaders and national political committee members met with Cuban government officials, as well as a delegation to China. It also covers travel fund solicitations that sought tens of thousands of dollars to cover costs for those trips and related activities involving Florida chapters,” Uthmeier continued.
“Our laws prohibit accepting contributions from foreign sources of concern. They require organizations to be honest and transparent about how money is raised and used. The subpoena seeks the documents needed to determine compliance. 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.”
Today my office issued a subpoena to the Democratic Socialists of America. We’re examining foreign contributions—including from Cuba and China—tied to their delegations and travel fund solicitations.
FL law requires transparency. We will hold those who break the law accountable. pic.twitter.com/Xu8MUoDwZb
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) November 10, 2026
The inquiry focuses on DSA delegations to Cuba and China. The statement appears to reference a March convoy involving DSA members that carried medical and school supplies and solar panels and involved meetings with Cuban officials, as well as other travel such as an October 2025 delegation.
That matter is also the subject of a separate federal investigation.
Investigators are reviewing solicitations that sought tens of thousands of dollars for the trips and related Florida chapter activities to determine the source of the funds and compliance with disclosure rules.
Florida law, including provisions effective since mid-2025, restricts organizations that solicit contributions from Florida residents from accepting donations or anything of value from “foreign sources of concern.” These sources include governments, officials, or related parties from designated countries such as the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Cuba.
The statute applies to charitable solicitations and related fundraising and carries potential civil and criminal penalties for violations. Uthmeier’s office previously used similar authorities in an investigation of the Southern Poverty Law Center’s fundraising practices.
DSA Communications Director Priscilla Yeverino told reporters that the organization is aware of the subpoena and has no further comment at this time. The announcement occurred one week after the 2026 midterm elections, in which a DSA-backed candidate won a seat in the Florida Legislature for the first time, and DSA-aligned candidates recorded gains elsewhere in the country.
Uthmeier, a Republican, was elected attorney general in those same elections. No specific individuals have been named as targets, while the subpoena itself does not seeks documents to assess compliance.
DSA chapters currently operate in numerous Florida cities, including Miami, Jacksonville and Orlando.
