Maybe he got immunity from criminal prosecution when Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez testified in
the federal tax evasion case that the U.S. government ultimately lost against former Mayor Julio Robaina.
But he’s not getting off totally scot-free.
In the very first case where the the Miami-Dade Commission on Ethics and Public Trust has enforced the Citizens’ Bill of Rights, Hernandez faces ethics charges that he lied. The commission found probable cause Wednesday for a complaint accusing the mayor “of making false statements to the public about income he earned from a private loan.”
Not just in English. But en español, too.
He’s a bilingual liar.
Read related story: Carlos Hernandez testifies in Robaina trial, admits crime
“Investigators compared statements Hernandez made at press conferences in both English and Spanish in October 2011 with testimony he gave during the federal tax evasion trial of former Mayor Julio Robaina last year,” the summary from the commission states. “At the press briefings, then-Interim Mayor Hernandez disputed reports that he failed to report tens of thousands of dollars in interest on his Source of Income Statements for 2007, 2008, and 2009 when he was a Hialeah Councilman.
Instead, he stated that he invested money with convicted Ponzi schemer Luis Felipe Perez, but didn’t recover his investments and had no earnings.
“However, under oath during the Robaina trial on April 14, 2014, Mayor Hernandez testified that he did receive monthly interest payments totaling approximately $100,000 over the three years, contradicting his public statements. The false account violates the portion of the County Charter entitled Truth in Government which states, in part, ‘No County or municipal official… shall knowingly furnish false information on any public matter, nor knowingly omit significant facts when giving requested information to members of the public.'”
Well, “Duh!” is what Ladra wants to say. The guy should be wearing anti-flaming pants.
Read related story: Checks, lies and videotape in Hialeah
We knew back then at that very press conference, the journalists that were there, that Hernandez — who slipped and first said the payments were interest only to recant that later and say it was principal — that he was lying. TV journalist Oscar Haza had the checks blown up real big for his show and he knew that Hernandez was lying because the amounts were for, coincidentally, the 36% suspected interest rate.
Naturally, the mayor’s response was to attack the ethics commission, calling it a political organization and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Guess (read: thank God) he is not with the majority of voters who expanded the commission’s powers to enforce the Citizen’s Bill of Rights in 2012.
Besides, how can we believe anything he says?
The case now proceeds to a public hearing (save me a front seat!) and Hernandez faces a $1,500 fine for lying. Well, at least it’s something.
Oh, and while many of us may have already known Hernandez was a big fibber, now the label could very well be made official. And maybe more people will now question whether he is lying on city issues, look at him with more scrutiny.
That would be real punishment.
Duh! Hialeah’s Carlos Hernandez charged with lying re loan added by Ladra on
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