Miami Mayor Francis Suarez conquer allegations that he approved unlawful freebie invitations to swanky VIP gatherings, which includes a Miami Grand Prix social gathering hosted by billionaire Ken Griffin.
The Florida Commission on Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a grievance versus Suarez after an investigation concluded that he reimbursed Griffin for two tickets to the Citadel founder’s lavish celebration throughout the Components 1 race at Hard Rock Stadium last calendar year, Miami New Occasions noted.
The fee found “no possible lead to to believe” Suarez acknowledged items in trade for political favors.
In a statement posted Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, Suarez took a victory lap. “Today’s bipartisan and unanimous exoneration gives irrefutable evidence that the vicious and politically inspired assaults on Mayor Suarez’s character are wholly inaccurate and without having merit,” the statement mentioned.
Thomas Kennedy, the Miami resident who submitted the grievance versus Suarez, informed Miami New Occasions that the Florida ethics fee gave the mayor a move by ruling that other VIP gatherings Suarez attended for absolutely free were being for formal city organization. He criticized the watchdog company for a “poorly conducted investigation.”
Kennedy’s criticism alleged that Suarez failed to disclose the VIP tickets as items valued at about $100. It also noted that Florida ethics law bars people today and firms from gifting governing administration officers just about anything worth more than $100 while they have organization pending just before a municipal or county agency.
In addition to the race tickets from Griffin, Suarez also gained inappropriate freebies to show up at VIP events such as the Entire world Cup in Qatar and the Sobe Foodstuff and Wine Pageant past yr, the complaint alleged.
Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, and Suarez have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and have repeatedly informed press shops, like The True Offer, that the mayor compensated for two tickets to the Miami Grand Prix bash.
In July, Suarez paid out $14,000 by means of test to a Griffin entity to protect tickets for the race soiree and an additional party the identical weekend at Carbone in Miami Seashore headlined by Griffin and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, point out ethics investigators located.
Griffin is planning a $1 billion supertall office environment tower in Miami’s Brickell that will be the headquarters for Citadel and Citadel Securities.
The planned job will consist of a superior-end lodge in the upper flooring. Griffin is also looking for city of Miami acceptance to transfer a historic property on the waterfront estate formerly owned by regional philanthropist Adrienne Arsht. Griffin purchased the 4-acre residence for $106 million in 2022.
– Francisco Alvarado
