Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez, who is scheduled to surrender himself Tuesday to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office on a public corruption charge, is the victim of a political attack, says his lawyer in a pair of statements that question the timing.
After a five-year investigation, criminal charges will be filed against Martinez Tuesday, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle confirmed. What charges? We don’t know. Yet. She and Miami-Dade County Inspector General Felix Gimenez will have a joint press conference Tuesday afternoon to provide the details — and soundbites.
A press conference means they have details to share.
Read related: Sources: Joe Martinez will turn himself in on Tuesday after 5-year investigation
The speculation, based on what has been leaked about a “direct payment” for some kind of quid-pro-quo legislation, is that it will either be bribery or, more likely, unlawful compensation.
The commissioner’s position is that this has come forward now only to interfere with his anticipated 2024 run for Miami-Dade Sheriff — even though he said months ago that he was no longer interested in the job. Martinez, seen as the frontrunner in that partisan race, is a conservative Republican. Fernandez Rundle is a Democrat.
Furthermore, the two apparently disagree on how the new sheriff’s office should be funded and run — Martinez wants it to take over all county police operations — and Kuehne hinted that could be a motive for the accusations.
“State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle directed Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez to surrender this week based on false allegations arising from his private practice work as a consultant when he was a private citizen and not an elected official,” Kuehne said in a written statement that was slightly different (read: toned down) from the one sent to lobbyists and other campaign donors a day earlier, which mentions reaching out to the governor’s office.
Read related: Elected Miami-Dade sheriff, SOE could curb mayor’s abuse of power
This seems to confirm what sources told Ladra about the “direct payment” being made before he was elected in 2016. Perhaps while working as a security consultant. And sources say he has been in touch with Gov. Ron DeSantis or his people about having the guv suspend him and appoint his former chief of staff, Roni Oves, in his place.
Then Martinez could come back to the dais if prosecutors can’t prove their case. If he has to resign, he would not be able to run again for six years, due to term limits.
This is the rest of the statement:
“The investigation has been ongoing for five years, so the timing of the allegations that do not involve Commissioner Martinez’s time in public office raise questions of a political impact when he is considered the front runner for the newly created Sheriff of Miami-Dade County.
“As an outspoken member of the Commission, Commissioner Martinez has publicly disagreed with the State Attorney on important issues, the most recent of which is the role of and funding for the Sheriff’s Office. Whether this apparent conflict influenced the charging decision is unknown. For now, Commissioner Martinez makes clear that he is innocent of any wrongdoing and intends to aggressively work to clear his name.”
“He has devoted his entire adult life to serving the best interests of the public. He is humbled by the show of support and confidence among his constituents and the people of Miami-Dade County.”
The first version, sent to lobbyists and other campaign contributors, had this sentence, which was removed for the benefit of the rest of us: “Whether this apparent public conflict influenced the State Attorney’s charging decision is a matter that will be presented to Florida Governor DeSantis.”
Joe Martinez claims public corruption charge is really a political hatchet job added by Ladra on
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Joe Martinez is innocent. The man has been set up, probably by the Mayor, because she feared him running for MDPD Sheriff. She only wants someone she can completely control, and Joe Martinez would not let the Mayor get away with it. Levine Cava should be investigated for pushing for Joe Martinez’ arrest. The man has been in public service his entire life, the timing of this is suspicious at the least. This is election interference!!
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HaHa. Joe Martinez claims he is innocent. Next joke…
Its a political show. From the press filings 2016-2017 events are barred by the statute of limitations.
Florida law generally states that the statute of limitation on theft is 5 years after the cause of action accrues. In the case of a criminal charge, however, the state of Florida tolls that time limit (for up to one year) when the defendant is continuously absent from the state. Similar tolling of the statute of limitations for theft also also applies in situations where the defendant does not have a reasonably ascertainable place of abode or work with the state of Florida.
In 2003 IG Gimenez sold his soul to Rundle and I was there. He was a SGT for Miami-Dade Public Corruption.
Funny how Miami-Dade Police were kept in the dark.
Why aren’t Joe Carollo and Alex Diaz de la Portilla being arrested?
All I know is that every time myself and friends have asked to meet with him on an issue, he has made the time, was very open, respectful, and frank about the issues. We don’t always agree, but I always felt he really had the interests of his constituents as his focus…And, he isn’t even my district commissioner. I was grateful when he found another place for the senior center he supported after Town and Country Mall didn’t renew their lease. And he did it without any fanfare or effort to get recognition because the job requires much more than TV spots passing out turkeys for Xmas and Thanksgiving. I also want to ask Ladra if the OIG, Gimenez, is related to the Mayor Gimenez that Joe ran against ?
Fernandez Rundle, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to show up with any prosecution efforts until she’s running for election and then she just touts trafficking as her great accomplishments
If Rundle were serious she would indict Keon Hardemon. We know he has been under investigation.
Btw , I should have added that I have no idea who Joe Martinez is so not implying he is innocent nor guilty .
My comment is about Rundle who I find a disaster with SELECTIVE enforcement and SELECTIVE prosecution .
” Maybe someday the FBI will get off its rear and decide to investigate State Attorney Rundle. She is the true Godmother of corruption in this county ”
Yes she is the enabler of the Cosa Nostra but I do not agree with others that this has anything to do with politics as far as party because she goes after anyone who rubs her the wrong way , an enemy of one of her friends , etc .
Miami has never been about politics as far as one party going after another , it is about corruption thus the two headed serpent often works together across party lines but not for our good but for theirs and this is why Miami politics is so difficult .
I use these 2 quotes as feel it defines her —
” When it comes to using her official position to protect her friends and destroy her political enemies, Miami State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle’s selective prosecution is as transparent as glass. As I wrote over two years ago “Keeping her friends in power empowers her. Keeping her friends close and prosecuting their enemies will ensure her continued reign as the most powerful politician in Miami-Dade County.”
She as you know has a tax free ” charity ” foundation where people donate and in theory it is for non profit ventures , charity , etc again in theory —
” Furthermore, once these individual “private foundations” are formed at the Miami Foundation, anyone at all can donate to these “private donations” without the Miami Foundation having to report the individual donors’ names.
Even crazier, since Katherine Fernandez-Rundle Fund opened her “private foundation” with the residual funds from her 2012 campaign, she has maintained complete control over how those funds are to be spent.”
ALL The Politicians and Former Miami Dade County Politicians Should be investigated for CORRUPTION ? Their own Public Records will Kill Them , BRIBES are call Donations “or” Contributions and Staff Members some tin=me are rewarded * W/ Campaign Donations for Working on Their RE- Elections . Dirty Money Example Follow “THE TAXI MONEY” !
Isn’t this the same thing tat was done to Raul Martinez ?
Oh, Kathy, Kathy… You are widely famous for not prosecuting anyone, ever. And now this? What have you become? A “Banana Republic” version of Brandon’s DOJ? This is a major fishing expedition if there ever was one in the County. You are one of the most deplorable public servants in the Sunshine State. There is reason why nobody wants to work for you.
What is he going to say, all of them are made with same wood including Levine Cava created high paying positions for their friends and families. Look at the seaport, then airport it is pathetic.
Maybe someday the FBI will get off its rear and decide to investigate State Attorney Rundle. She is the true Godmother of corruption in this county and Felix Jimenez of the OIG is her useful stooge only awarded the job by Rundle to go after her political enemies. To wait 5 years to bring an investigation forward is a true telling sign of a fishing expedition only intended to ruin Martinez’s public image.