Miami Mayor Francis Suarez Under State Ethics Investigation Over Attendance at High-Profile Sporting Events

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez is under investigation as the Florida Commission on Ethics officially launches an investigation into his attendance at premium sporting events, per a complaint filed by Democratic activist Thomas Kennedy. Kennedy raises alarms over who paid for Suarez's experiences at the F1 Grand Prix and the World Cup in Qatar, as reported by NBC Miami.

"My complaint is based on the fact that he received two Formula 1 tickets worth $30,000 from a businessman who has several luxury construction projects in front of the city of Miami," Kennedy claims, according to a Telemundo 51 interview. Suarez has maintained that he reimbursed the costs associated with the Grand Prix, despite not producing the receipts to substantiate the claim.

That's not the only issue casting a shadow over Suarez's administration. The Miami Herald's deep dive into his activities points to a pattern of absence from city duties and a lucrative string of side hustles that have significantly increased his wealth. From seldom seen at commission meetings to frequently jet-setting, Suarez has blurred the lines between his public responsibilities and private endeavors. Information from a Miami Herald analysis states that the mayor spent at least 85 days outside Miami in 2022.

The tally for Miami taxpayers has hit at least $164,579 for accompanying officers' travel expenses, a practice that has been both defended by Suarez and criticized by a former police chief and current officials, per the Miami Herald report. Although the city office claims they do not foot the bill for these international trips, the records tell a story of public funds being used in some capacity, raising questions about the accountability and transparency of Suarez's time.

Suarez is also under federal investigation for his connections with a local developer, an issue he has already addressed in previous statements."We've talked about this multiple times, again, this is the same story being recycled over and over again and I have been very clear and candid on this, in which I had no influence whatsoever,” Suarez told NBC6. He asserts having provided sufficient evidence of his non-involvement to anyone requesting it.