Allegations of Bribery Surround Miami City Commissioner Race

Former Miami city commissioner Sabina Covo is currently under criminal investigation by the State Attorney's Office over allegations that she bribed her former political opponent Eddy Leal with a City Hall job in exchange for his endorsement in the tight runoff race for the commissioner position.

Records show that Covo's office sought to hire Leal between the general election and the runoff, despite Covo denying that she ever offered Leal a job. Leal met separately with Covo and another candidate, Damian Pardo, to discuss his runoff endorsement. Pardo claimed Leal was seeking a deal involving a job offer.

Covo's then-chief of staff, Anthony Balzebre, said Covo instructed him to move forward with hiring Leal as a consultant, but Balzebre disagreed with the decision on principle. The city manager approved the hiring of Leal as a consultant, but Balzebre said he never followed through with an offer letter.

Another candidate, James Torres, also alleged that Covo offered him and Leal positions in exchange for their endorsements, though Torres said he declined. Covo denied instructing Balzebre to hire Leal and claimed to have no knowledge of her top aide's request to the city manager.

Why this matters: The allegations of bribery and questionable behavior by candidates in the Miami city commissioner race raise concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential misuse of public office for personal gain. The outcome of the criminal investigation could have significant implications for the individuals involved and public trust in local government.

The State Attorney's Office is currently investigating the allegations against Covo. If substantiated, the claims could lead to criminal charges and further scrutiny of the candidates' actions during the electoral race.

Key Takeaways

• Former Miami city commissioner Sabina Covo under criminal investigation for bribery.
• Covo allegedly offered her opponent Eddy Leal a City Hall job for his endorsement.
• Covo's chief of staff said he was instructed to hire Leal as a consultant.
• Another candidate, James Torres, also alleged Covo offered him a job for endorsement.
• Investigation could lead to criminal charges and impact public trust in local government.