James Uthmeier

James Uthmeier
Born	James William Uthmeier 25 11, 1987
Birthplace	Destin, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, attorney
Education	University of Florida (BS, MA) Georgetown University (JD)
Spouse(s)	Jean Uthmeier
Children	3

James William Uthmeier (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; born November 25, 1987) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 39th Attorney General of Florida since February 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Uthmeier was appointed to the position by Governor Ron DeSantis following the elevation of his predecessor, Ashley Moody, to the United States Senate. Before assuming the attorney general role, Uthmeier served as DeSantis's chief of staff from October 2021 to February 2025, a period during which he became one of the governor's most trusted advisors and played a central role in shaping the administration's policy agenda. Born and raised in Destin, Florida, Uthmeier was a standout track and field athlete at the University of Florida before earning his law degree from Georgetown University. His tenure as attorney general has been marked by high-profile investigations, including probes into the Andrew Tate case and Roblox, as well as controversial proposals regarding immigration enforcement. His simultaneous employment as a university instructor while serving as attorney general drew public scrutiny in early 2026.

Early Life

James William Uthmeier was born on November 25, 1987, in Destin, Florida, a city along Florida's Emerald Coast in Okaloosa County. He grew up in the Florida Panhandle region and attended local schools before enrolling at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

At the University of Florida, Uthmeier was a member of the Florida Gators men's track and field team. His participation in collegiate athletics at a Southeastern Conference institution reflected an early commitment to competitive discipline that would later characterize his career in law and politics. Uthmeier completed both a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree at the University of Florida before pursuing legal studies.

Education

Uthmeier earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Florida, obtaining both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts. He subsequently attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. His legal education at Georgetown, one of the nation's top-ranked law schools, prepared him for a career that would span both private legal practice and public service in Florida state government.

Career

Early Legal Career

Following his legal education, Uthmeier entered the practice of law in Florida. His background combined legal training with policy experience, positioning him for roles in state government. By the time Ron DeSantis assumed the governorship of Florida in January 2019, Uthmeier had established himself within Florida Republican legal and political circles sufficiently to draw the attention of the new administration.

Chief of Staff to Governor DeSantis

In October 2021, Uthmeier was named chief of staff to Governor Ron DeSantis, succeeding Adrian Lukis in the role. The appointment placed the then-33-year-old Destin native at the center of the DeSantis administration's operations, overseeing the governor's office staff and serving as a principal advisor on policy and political matters.

As chief of staff, Uthmeier occupied a position of considerable influence during a period when DeSantis emerged as one of the most prominent Republican governors in the United States. The role required him to manage the day-to-day operations of the governor's office while coordinating legislative strategy and executive initiatives across state agencies.

Uthmeier's tenure as chief of staff coincided with DeSantis's 2024 presidential campaign. A New York Times report in August 2023 detailed internal dynamics within the DeSantis political operation, in which Uthmeier was identified as a key figure in the governor's inner circle. He served as chief of staff throughout the presidential campaign period and continued in the role until his appointment as attorney general in early 2025.

Uthmeier was succeeded as chief of staff by Jason Weida when he departed the position in February 2025.

Appointment as Attorney General

In December 2024, Governor DeSantis announced that he would appoint Ashley Moody, the incumbent attorney general, to succeed Marco Rubio in the United States Senate following Rubio's nomination as Secretary of State in the incoming Donald Trump administration. Simultaneously, DeSantis announced that he would appoint Uthmeier to fill the resulting vacancy in the attorney general's office.

Uthmeier was officially sworn in as the 39th Attorney General of Florida on February 17, 2025. The CBS Miami affiliate reported on the appointment, noting Uthmeier's transition from chief of staff to the state's top legal officer.

Following his appointment, Uthmeier officially filed to seek a full term as attorney general in the next election cycle.

Andrew Tate Investigation

One of Uthmeier's first major actions as attorney general was launching an investigation into the presence of Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate in the state of Florida. In March 2025, the Florida attorney general's office announced it had opened an investigation into the Tate brothers, who faced criminal charges in Romania related to human trafficking and other offenses.

The investigation drew national media attention and Uthmeier used social media to publicize the probe. In a post on X, he addressed the Tate brothers directly. Florida Politics reported on the exchange, noting Uthmeier's confrontational tone toward Andrew Tate.

The Hill subsequently reported that the Florida attorney general's office indicated it would continue its investigation into the Tate brothers even after they departed the state.

Child Safety Initiatives

Uthmeier's office pursued legal action related to child safety on digital platforms. The attorney general issued criminal subpoenas to Roblox, the online gaming platform, as part of an effort to protect children from potential exploitation and harmful content on the platform. The action was part of a broader national trend of state attorneys general scrutinizing technology companies over child safety concerns.

Immigration Enforcement

Uthmeier took an aggressive posture on immigration enforcement during his tenure as attorney general, aligning with the DeSantis administration's broader approach to the issue. In June 2025, The Guardian reported that a Florida judge held Uthmeier's office in contempt in connection with immigration-related arrests, marking a notable legal confrontation between the attorney general's office and the judiciary.

Uthmeier proposed the establishment of an immigration detention facility in the Everglades, which became known colloquially as "Alligator Alcatraz." The proposal drew both support from immigration enforcement advocates and criticism from opponents who questioned its legality and humanitarian implications. NBC News reported that the facility was set to open with the cooperation of both the Trump and DeSantis administrations.

Public Corruption Unit

In February 2026, Uthmeier's office announced the creation of a Public Corruption Unit tasked with reviewing Florida's legislative appropriations from the preceding two fiscal years. The unit was established to investigate and prosecute corruption involving public funds.

Arrest of Biden Clemency Recipient

In February 2026, the attorney general's office announced the re-arrest of Oscar Freemond Fowler III, who had been released through clemency granted by President Joe Biden. Uthmeier's office described Fowler as a "dangerous career criminal" and stated he was taken into custody on state charges.

Controversies

Teaching Position at the University of Florida

In February 2026, the Miami Herald reported that Uthmeier had secured a teaching position at the University of Florida within months of being appointed attorney general. The position reportedly paid approximately $100,000, raising questions about whether the attorney general was devoting sufficient attention to his official duties.

The Tampa Bay Times noted that Uthmeier's official salary as attorney general was $140,000 annually and that, according to Uthmeier, the salary was insufficient. The newspaper's commentary section framed the situation as highlighting an "uncomfortable truth" about compensation for public officials within the Republican Party.

Florida Politics reported that Byron Donalds, a front-runner in the race for Florida governor, publicly addressed the situation of Uthmeier's outside employment. Former state Senator Jeff Brandes wrote a column in Florida Politics defending Uthmeier and arguing that the controversy highlighted the broader issue of inadequate compensation for public officials, which he argued undermined the ideal of a citizen legislature.

Allegations of Orchestrating Protests Against a Lawmaker

In February 2026, the Miami Herald reported that Uthmeier's office had spent a weekend urging anti-abortion groups to protest a Republican lawmaker who had investigated the attorney general's office in connection with the Hope Florida program. Raw Story described the situation as the attorney general's office being "caught orchestrating fake protest campaign to discredit lawmaker probing him," characterizing the actions as an effort to use outside groups to retaliate against legislative oversight.

Personal Life

Uthmeier is married to Jean Uthmeier, and the couple has three children. The family resides in Florida. Uthmeier has maintained ties to his hometown of Destin, in the Florida Panhandle, throughout his career in Tallahassee and state government.

His background as a collegiate athlete at the University of Florida, where he competed on the men's track and field team, has been noted in profiles of the attorney general.

Recognition

Uthmeier's appointment as Florida's attorney general at the age of 37 made him one of the younger individuals to hold the position in the state's modern history. His rapid ascent from chief of staff to attorney general within the same administration attracted attention from both state and national media outlets, including the Associated Press, CBS News, the New York Times, and NBC News.

His actions as attorney general, particularly regarding the Andrew Tate investigation, the Roblox subpoenas, and the "Alligator Alcatraz" immigration proposal, generated coverage across major national and international news organizations including The Guardian, Axios, The Hill, and ABC News.