TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez’s nomination to become U.S. ambassador to Brazil is drawing renewed attention to his federally required financial disclosure, which provides a detailed public accounting of his outside legal work, private clients and ethics commitments before the U.S. Senate considers his confirmation.
President Donald Trump nominated Perez to serve as ambassador to Brazil, one of the administration’s key diplomatic appointments in Latin America. Like all ambassadorial nominees, Perez is required to file financial and ethics disclosures so federal officials can evaluate potential conflicts of interest before assuming office.
The disclosure reports approximately $1.1 million in outside legal income during the reporting period and identifies several private clients as part of the federally required ethics review. The filing itself does not establish wrongdoing, and financial disclosures are a routine component of the federal confirmation process.
Among the organizations identified in the disclosure are Airbnb, Newsmax, and CDR Maguire. The filing lists those clients but does not describe the specific legal services Perez provided or indicate whether any of his work involved matters before the Florida Legislature.
One of the companies listed in the disclosure, Airbnb, operates in an industry that had an interest in housing legislation considered during Florida’s 2026 Legislative Session involving accessory dwelling units (ADUs), commonly known as “granny flats.” House Bill 313 proposed expanding property owners’ ability to construct ADUs under certain circumstances but ultimately did not become law.
Federal ethics disclosures routinely identify outside income, assets, liabilities and certain client relationships so government ethics officials can review potential conflicts before nominees assume public office. The filings are intended to promote transparency and public confidence in the confirmation process.
As part of his ethics filing, Perez also submitted an ethics agreement outlining steps he would take if confirmed. The agreement includes commitments regarding recusals from matters involving former clients, termination of his private legal practice and compliance with federal ethics requirements.
Perez has publicly stated that his legal work involved private transactions and that he declined any representation that could create ethical concerns. He has also noted that Florida operates under a citizen legislature, where many lawmakers continue outside employment while serving in office.
Perez’s nomination comes after a two-year tenure as Speaker of the Florida House marked by debates over tax policy, housing, immigration, and disagreements within Florida’s Republican leadership. If confirmed by the Senate, Perez would leave state government to serve as the chief U.S. diplomatic representative to Brazil.
What Is a Federal Financial Disclosure?
Federal nominees for ambassadorial positions are required to disclose income, assets, liabilities, outside employment and certain client relationships. These disclosures allow ethics officials to identify and resolve potential conflicts of interest before nominees assume office. A financial disclosure is not a finding of wrongdoing or evidence of misconduct.
What Happens Next
The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has not yet scheduled a confirmation hearing for Perez’s nomination. If confirmed, he has agreed to resign from his private legal practice, terminate relationships with his current clients and comply with the ethics commitments outlined in his federal disclosure before assuming the role of U.S. ambassador to Brazil.
Until then, Perez’s financial disclosure will remain part of the public record reviewed during the Senate confirmation process as senators evaluate his nomination.
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Sources
- U.S. Office of Government Ethics – Executive Branch Public Financial Disclosure Report (Daniel Perez)
- Daniel Perez Ethics Agreement submitted as part of the federal nomination process
- U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
- Florida House of Representatives
- Florida Legislature – House Bill 313 (2026 Session)
