Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will investigate GoFundMe for ‘fraud’ after the site ‘commandeered $9 million’ in donations for truck drivers protesting COVID mandates in Canada

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will investigate GoFundMe for 'deceptive practices,' accusing the crowdfunding website of 'fraud' after it took down a page for Canadian truck drivers protesting COVID mandates which had raised $9 million. 

GoFundMe removed the fundraising page for the Freedom Convoy on Friday and said donors had two weeks to request a refund. The website announced that the remaining funds would be disbursed to 'credible and established charities.' 

The website received backlash for removing the page and trying to redistribute donated funds, and in a tweet on Saturday, DeSantis said he would be investigating the company with state Attorney General Ashely Moody.

'It is a fraud for @gofundme to commandeer $9M in donations sent to support truckers and give it to causes of their own choosing,' he wrote.

'I will work with @AGAshleyMoody to investigate these deceptive practices — these donors should be given a refund.' 

Following the severe criticism, GoFundMe said in a tweet that the company will be providing full refunds in the next two weeks to all those who donated to the Freedom Convoy's page. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was opening an investigation into GoFundMe for alleged 'deceptive practices' when it shut down the fundraising page for Canada's Freedom Convoy

 

The trucker demonstration has gone on for eight days, but GoFundMe cancelled their page due to police reports of violence and said donors would have to request or refund and that any remaining money would be donated to other charities

Following backlash from their decision, the company said it will issue full refunds to donors

The company said on Saturday: 'The update we issued earlier enabled all donors to get a refund and outlined a plan to distribute remaining funds to verified charities selected by the Freedom Convoy organizers. However, due to donor feedback, we are simplifying the process and automatically refunding donations.

'To simplify the process for our users, we will be refunding all donations to the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser. This refund will happen automatically—you do not need to submit a request. Donors can expect to see refunds within 7-10 business days.' 

GoFundMe did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. 

GoFundMe had cancelled the page for the Freedom Convoy after receiving reports from police that the one peaceful demonstration has turned 'violent' and that members were performing 'unlawful activities' 

Protesters have shut down downtown Ottawa for eight days, with some participants waving Confederate or Nazi flags and others saying they wanted to dissolve Canada's government. 

The protests continue into Saturday as protestors demonstrate outside Canada's Parliament, but the movement gained opposition as counter-protesters came out in droves in support of COVID mandates, The Star reported. 

'The tractor rallies that are currently targeting Queen's Park and local MPP and MP offices are not organized by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA),' the OFA said in a statement condemning the demonstration. 

'Throughout this pandemic, we have and will continue to work with all levels of government, supported by science and health-care professionals to find the best way to return to normal once again.'

Christian Mundean, a truck driver from Windsor, Ontario, who has been sleeping in the cab of his yellow semi for the past eight days told The Star that he's not going anywhere until two things happen: 'all COVID-19 health restrictions are lifted and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigns.' 

'I know people, they are not happy, listening to all the honking and everything. But that's our voice right now... the honking is our voice,' he said.

Those demonstrating with the Freedom Convoy are calling for an end to Canada's COVID mandates and some want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign

The protestors have gathered around the country's Parliament building in Ottawa

Hundreds of supporters have rallied at Ottawa, attracting fellow protestors and opposition

The protestors continue to line up as they want an end to the country's COVID mandates

GoFundMe issued a statement Friday night saying the Freedom Convoy 2022 fundraiser violated its terms of service 'which prohibits the promotion of violence and harassment

GoFundMe had previously released $1million to organizers after they were 'provided a clear distribution plan… and confirmed funds would be used only for participants who traveled to Ottawa to participate in a peaceful protest.'

The organizers claimed the funds would be used for expenses such as fuel, food and lodging, with any leftover donations being gifted to a 'credible Veterans organization which will be chosen by the donors.'  

Trudeau and some of his Liberal Party allies have accused the convoy demonstrators of extremism and racism, a charge that Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich strongly denied on Thursday. 

'We are here out of love for our families, our communities and our nation. These past two years, the covid mandates have divided us,' she said in a statement. 

'This protest began because of the federal government's restrictions on truckers' freedoms. Our movement has grown in Canada and across the world because common people are tired of the mandates and restrictions in their own lives that now seem to be doing more harm than good,' she added. 

'We are therefore calling on all levels of government in Canada to end all covid mandates and restrictions. We will continue our protest until we see a clear plan for their elimination.' 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk had also accused GoFundMe of hypocrisy after the company canceled the Freedom Convoy fundraiser despite actively supporting a campaign for the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest in Seattle last year. 

Freedom Convoy organizers claim the protest began because of 'the federal government's restrictions on truckers' freedoms'

Since last weekend, hundreds of long-haul truckers have blockaded Parliament Hill in Ottawa as well as a key border crossing between Alberta and Montana , railing against vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions

GoFundMe previously allowed numerous BLM-related fundraisers, some of which still remain active, that strived to raise funds for protective gear (left) and medical supplies (right) for the protestors in the Pacific Northwest

GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan, who last year urged the US government to pass emergency COVID-19 aid, has not publicly commented on the Freedom Convoy fundraiser. 

Although he has previously argued the nonprofit has 'a responsibility to society' and so 'we prohibit the promotion of misinformation, or the promotion of hate or discrimination, or using a campaign to bully someone or discriminate, or to promote violence or terrorism.'  

GoFundMe CEO slammed Congress over its COVID response

GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan (pictured) has not publicly commented on the Freedom Convoy fundraiser

GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan has not publicly commented on the Freedom Convoy fundraiser, but some allege he likely opposes the anti-vaccine protest given his own criticisms of the US government's COVID response.

Last year, during an interview with the New York Times Cadogan said: 'This is a war against a virus. If this were a war against another country at this scale, it would be no question what we would do, right? We would mobilize our society to defeat it.'  

He also argued that he would rather the federal government offer aid to Americans than his company.

The CEO penned an open letter to Congress - which was published in USA Today - arguing lawmakers didn't to take action because many citizens were unable to afford rent, groceries, utilities and medical bills. He also argued the pandemic was making it nearly impossible for small businesses owners to stay afloat.

Cadogan said that although GoFundMe aims to be 'the most helpful place in the world,' the platform cannot do the government's job for it. 

'We are proud of the role that GoFundMe plays in connecting those in need with those who are ready to help,' he wrote. 'But our platform was never meant to be a source of support for basic needs, and it can never be a replacement for robust federal COVID-19 relief that is generous and targeted to help the millions of Americans who are struggling.'

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Crowdfunding platforms, including GoFundMe, have the right to ban campaigns that the companies allege violate their terms of service.

GoFundMe, for example, does not allow fundraisers for the legal defense of people accused of hate, intolerance or violent crimes. Campaigns associated to sexual content or pornography are also prohibited. 

The company has also previously remove campaigns that it believes spread misinformation about COVID vaccine safety. 

However, its terms of service also give it the right to prohibit 'any other activity that GoFundMe may deem, in its sole discretion, to be unacceptable.'

Last year, the company - likely bowing to pressure from progressive activists - deactivated a fundraiser established by a group of Virginia parents trying to fight the implementation of critical race theory (CRT) in Loudoun County Public Schools.

Scott Mineo, founder of Parents Against Critical Theory, created the GoFundMe campaign last March after members of the Anti-Racist Parents of Loudoun County Facebook group launched an 'intimidation campaign' against his organization, as well as several other parent groups. 

His fundraiser had accrued nearly $4,000 by March 22 when a former Loudoun County School Board Equity Committee member reportedly urged the academic community to report the account.

He told Fox News that GoFundMe claimed the group violated the company's terms of service and refunded the contributions to donors.  

Mineo argued the crowdfunding platform neglected to specify which term of service the page violated. He suspected, however, that GoFundMe didn't support his stance on CRT and believed he was spreading misinformation. 

'Because I'm anti-CRT, that's it,' he said of the decision, speaking to the Virginia Star.

'The fact that I'm anti-CRT and that I'm spreading misinformation.'

He added: 'But almost everything that I post comes from the school system themselves. It's their material.'

Loudon County, a Democratic stronghold in northern Virginia, became the focal point of debate over woke policies, including CRT and transgender issues, by school boards across the country. 

Parents voiced their frustration with the school board, saying they did not want their children to be taught that they're bad or good depending on their race.

The use of critical race theory, or CRT, in education has been criticized for its message that the US is built on racism with skin color determining the social, economic, and political differences between each. 

Advocates say its teaching is necessary to underline how deeply racism pervades society, while critics say it is divisive and paints everyone as a victim or oppressor, with multiple Virginia school board meetings making headlines after parents were filmed clashing with staff over the decision to teach it. 

Organizers and participants - although many have remained peaceful - have been accused of calling their political opponents Nazis, waving swastikas and Confederate flags, and threatening an insurrection against the Canadian government

People walk near police cars parked beside several trucks as truckers and supporters protest in Ottawa on Friday

GoFundMe has repeatedly flip-flopped over its stance on the Freedom Convoy fundraiser. 

It suspended the account twice, before ultimately removing the campaign, and reportedly began refunding donations earlier this week although the company had not yet canceled the fundraiser.

Brad Maier, a convoy donor, said received an email from GoFundMe on Wednesday alerting him that his donation would be refunded but was given no explanation as to why. 

'The email looks legitimate, I just want to wait and see if it actually gets refunded to my credit card,' he told the Montreal Gazette. 'Then I will know if it's legit.'

The Ottawa Police Department thanked GoFundMe for discontinuing the fundraiser

Other social media users had also reported unexplained refunds from the platform. 

Since last weekend, hundreds of long-haul truckers have blockaded Parliament Hill in Ottawa as well as a key border crossing between Alberta and Montana, railing against vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions.   

Organizers and participants - although many have remained peaceful - have been accused of calling their political opponents Nazis, waving swastikas and Confederate flags, and threatening an insurrection against the Canadian government, the Conservation reported.     

Ottawa police Chief Peter Sloly said earlier this week that 'all options' were on the table, including calling in the military, to end the ongoing demonstration that some on the city council are calling an 'occupation.'   

Trudeau, responding to Sloly's remarks Thursday, said the government must be 'very, very cautious' about deploying troops on Canadian soil, adding that there has been no such request to the federal government. But he said that any formal requests for assistance from the City of Ottawa or Ontario will be considered. 

The Ottawa Police Department, taking to Twitter Friday, thanked GoFundMe for discontinuing the fundraiser. 

'We want to thank GoFundMe for listening to our concerns as a City and a police service,' the department wrote. 'The decision to withhold funding for these unlawful demonstrations is an important step and we call on all crowdfunding sites to follow.' 

Police barricades are seen as truckers and supporters continue to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates on Friday

Protestors are pictured outside Ottawa's Parliament Hill 

The Freedom Convoy fundraiser was first frozen last week, when it totaled $5million in donations, because GoFundMe wanted to determine exactly where the funds would go. 

It was provided with an explanation by the organizers and two days later, seemingly satisfied, the crowdfunding site unlocked the account allowing donations to continue and released $1million in donated funds.  

On Wednesday, it was frozen again, after days of political pressure from left-wing politicians who have blasted the truckers as 'mercenaries.' The company issued a statement saying: 'This fundraiser is currently paused and under review to ensure it complies with our terms of service and applicable laws and regulations.

 

'Our team is working 24/7 and doing all we can to protect both organizers and donors. Thank you for your patience.'

GoFundMe later clarified the account met its terms and services at the time of its creation last month. 

'We strictly prohibit user content that reflects or promotes behavior in support of violence - in this case, the organizer met our requirements and the fundraiser did not violate our Terms of Service at the time of creation.'

A GoFundMe campaign that was organized to support the Canadian truckers demonstration raised more than $10million CAD

The company claimed Thursday it was monitoring the fundraiser to ensure the money - raised from more than 120,000 donations - goes to the intended recipients, and went on to detail the criteria on how it intends to discern the integrity and transparency of the organizers of the fundraiser.

'As the activity surrounding the protest evolves, we have been monitoring the fundraiser to ensure the funds are going to the intended recipients and that the fundraiser remains within our Terms of Service.

'Our monitoring includes maintaining close communication with the organizer as well as collaborating with local law enforcement,' GoFundMe said.

'This process takes time and may slow down the withdrawal process. If the fundraiser does violate our Terms of Service or does not directly benefit the intended beneficiary, we will remove it from the platform,' the site added at the time.  

Similarly, Facebook has also removed a page used by American truckers to organize a convoy to Washington DC.

Meta, the social media platform's parent company, told Fox News the Convoy to DC 2022 group was removed 'for repeatedly violating our policies around QAnon'. 

Trucker Jeremy Johnson, who established the group, claims his personal Facebook account was also removed, prompting him to contact a civil rights attorney about his options moving forward.

'It's censorship at its finest,' he said. 'They like to silence people that speak the truth.'

Lich, who launched a TikTok account Friday night as a way to provide updates to convoy supporters, claims her Facebook account has also been suspended.