Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he will petition Florida’s Supreme Court for a grand jury to investigate any and all wrongdoings in relation to the COVID-19 vaccinations.

Although the Republican governor is frequently mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in 2024 he did not give any details on the wrongdoing that the panel would investigate but said it was primarily aimed at obtaining more information from pharmaceutical companies regarding vaccines and possible side effects.

After a roundtable discussion with Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s Surgeon General, and a panel made up of scientists and doctors, he announced the news.

DeSantis stated that they will be able to obtain the data regardless of whether the recipients want it. “It is illegal in Florida to mislead or misrepresent the efficacy and safety of drugs.

The vaccine studies funded by pharmaceutical companies who developed COVID-19 vaccines were published in peer-reviewed journals like the New England Journal of Medicine. Data on safety and effectiveness of shots was reviewed by government panels before approval.

Grand jury requests were released Tuesday. They argue that pharmaceutical companies had an economic interest in creating a climate where people believed getting a vaccine against coronavirus would prevent them from spreading the virus to others.

It asks for a grand jury to investigate whether deceitful information about vaccines that purportedly prevent COVID-19 transmission, symptoms, or infection was circulated.

Grand juries can be formed in states and consist of 18 members. They can investigate criminal activity, issue indictments, and also look at systemic issues in Florida. Recent panels dealt with school safety and immigration.

DeSantis pointed out that Florida received $3.2 billion in legal action against the people responsible for the opioid crisis. It’s not an unprecedented amount of money. This money was largely obtained through lawsuits and settlements with drugmakers and retailers.

DeSantis stated that he hopes to receive approval from the Supreme Court to have the statewide grand jury to be empanelled, most likely in the Tampa Bay region.

DeSantis stated that legal processes will be used to obtain more information and bring legal accountability to the perpetrators of misconduct.

DeSantis announced also that he will create a committee called the “Public Health Integrity Committee.” This committee will include many of Tuesday’s participants, including scientists and physicians. This group includes prominent critics of federal vaccine mandates and lockdowns for child vaccinations.

He stated that people lost faith in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the course the pandemic. He has filed lawsuits against the Florida Supreme Court to prevent CDC directives (including those regarding vaccine and mask mandates) from going into effect.

The governor also announced that Ladapo would conduct research at the University of Florida in order to “assess sudden death of individuals in good condition who have received a COVID-19 vaccination.” He added that the Florida Department of Health would use vital statistics and disease surveillance to evaluate such deaths.