Miami Mayor Francis Suarez can breathe easy once again as the State of Florida Commission on Ethics has dismissed a complaint that claimed he stepped out of line with ethics laws. This particular grievance zeroed in on the question of whether the mayor received tickets to high-profile sporting events, including the Formula 1 races and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as undisclosed gifts that could improperly influence his official duties.
The state commission decided Wednesday there was no probable cause to believe Suarez did anything wrong. According to WSVN, this ruling follows allegations that Suarez had failed to openly reveal all gifts over $100 as required by law, and that he may have wrongly received tickets from city vendors, lobbyists, or their employers. These claims appear to quickly have been put to bed as the commission found the evidence lacking in substance.
Notably, this isn't the first complaint against Suarez to be struck down. Another charge by activist Thomas Kennedy was previously dismissed in January, adding to the series of legal vindications for the Miami mayor. Kennedy had earlier accused Suarez of misusing public resources related to his presidential campaign, which also did not hold up under the ethics commission's scrutiny.
The mayor took to the web on Wednesday to express his vindication. "Today's bipartisan and unanimous exoneration provides irrefutable proof that the vicious and politically motivated attacks on Mayor Suarez's character are completely inaccurate and without merit," Suarez said in a post retrieved by NBC Miami. The statement also slammed the basis of the complaints, pointing fingers at The Miami Herald for allegedly inaccurate reporting and highlighting Suarez's contributions to Miami's welfare, citing "the lowest unemployment, lowest taxes, and lowest homicide rates in recent Miami history."
