Florida Politics Site Asked to Correct Misleading, Inflammatory Headline Regarding Candidate Keith Gross

Update: Florida Politics has revised the headline to read “Keith Gross disputes GoFundMe claims of wrongdoing, denies any veteran franchise involvement.”

(UnhappyFranchisee.Com)  by Sean Kelly  While I appreciate that Florida Politics and writer Jacob Ogles have provided some coverage of the problems Veteran face in franchising, I have asked the writer and publication to correct its headline and issue a clarification regarding the April 19, 2026 story titled Watchdog blogger accuses Keith Gross of being part of a franchise scheme hurting Florida veterans.

I never accused Keith Gross of being part of a franchise scheme that’s hurting Florida veterans.

Read: LETTER to KEITH GROSS from Franchise Truth for Veterans

In fact, the purpose of the proposed fundraiser was to gauge interest in a project to research and document Keith Gross’ actual role and views regarding the practice of silencing Veteran franchisees… a project in the public interest in which he’d be invited to participate.

While I’ve been aware of the integral connection between Keith Gross’ husband’s firm, Franchise Altitude, and franchise seller DonutNV, for some time.  However, I only recently learned that Mr. Gross’ law firm is representing DonutNV on franchisee relationship issues.

I am not a political blogger and have no direct stake in Florida primary elections.  My focus is on the fair treatment of Veterans and military families in the franchisee recruitment process.  I remain hopeful that Keith Gross’ intimate knowledge of Veteran’s issues and franchising could bring about positive change in the recruitment policies within DonutNV and other franchises.

If this is a cause former ARMY National guardsman Keith Gross were willing to embrace, it would be beneficial to have such a champion affect change in Washington D.C.

I Have Asked Keith Gross to Request Correction of His Potentially Defamatory Characterization of DonutNV’s Bullying Lawsuit

I have copied my Florida Politics request for correction to Candidate Gross with my regret for the publication’s mischaracterization.

I have also requested that he correct the potentially defamatory mischaracterization he made regarding the meritless SLAPP lawsuit against me and my website.

Florida Politics quotes Mr. Gross as saying:

“Other attorneys at my firm represent an unrelated brand which is currently suing Mr. Kelly for defamatory statements and extortionate tactics related to his publication of false articles about that client.”

As Mr. Gross is likely aware, the allegedly defamatory statements were direct quotes from DonutNV franchisees, including a mother who could not afford to put presents for her kids under her Christmas tree due to her failed DonutNV investment.  The many failed DonutNV franchisees include nearly a dozen Veterans, including a West Point graduate in Florida who was forced to declare bankruptcy and lost his home.

Not only were the allegedly defamatory statements made by DonutNV franchisees exercising their constitutional rights, the statements of fact have turned out to be provably accurate.

The Treatment of Veterans in Franchising SHOULD be an “Attention Grabber”

Keith Gross claims that I involved him and his candidacy as an “attention grabber.”

He has a point.

A candidate running for Congress on an America First platform who is a Veteran, an experienced franchise industry insider and who has direct access and ability to influence the treatment of Veterans in numerous franchise chains is definitely an attention grabber.

However, that attention need not be negative.

It’s my hope that Keith Gross will join me in acknowledging that there’s a problem when Veterans and military families are deprived of full access to critical information regarding life-altering investments.

I hope, as a Veteran himself, Keith Gross will help end the practice of taking the fundamental right to free speech away from the very heroes who served and sacrificed to protect that right for others.

This is not just a DonutNV issue.  The exploitation and silencing of Veterans in the franchise industry is not only a national issue, it’s a national disgrace.

What candidate Keith Gross has taken as a personal attack is, in fact, a rare opportunity for a candidate to demonstrate that he’s capable of putting America First by putting American Veterans first.

What do you think?  Feel free to share a comment below.

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TAGS:  Semi-absentee franchises, Veterans in Franchising, Franchise Truth for Veterans, DonutNV, DonutNV franchise, Gross Law Firm, Keith Gross, Keithly Gross, Scott Marr, Franchise Altitude, Free Speech, Freedom of Speech, First amendment, Non-disclosure agreements, NDAs, Koala Insulation, Wallaby Windows, RealClean Aircraft Cleaning, Franchise Fastlane