Miami City Commissioner Alejandro ‘Alex’ Díaz de la Portilla was suspended from office one day after his arrest on money laundering and bribery accusationsthis by orders of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis issued an executive order that prohibits the Cuban-American from exercising his duties as commissioner and prevents him from receiving remuneration for his position, due to the scandal that broke out last Thursday, when Díaz de la Portilla was arrested by agents of the Department of Law Enforcement. Florida Law (FDLE).
Following this decision, the city commission will meet on September 25 to determine whether a special election should be held or whether a person will be appointed to fill the position left by Díaz de la Portilla, even if it is temporarily until the next elections in November.
This temporary appointment process will be carried out through a vote in which the four active commissioners will decide.
In that sense, the Miami Commissioner of District 4, Manolo Reyes, considered that the idea of a special election was absurd, since the general elections were going to be held in a few months.
It is important to remember that Díaz de la Portilla faces charges of money laundering, bribery, criminal conspiracy and official misconduct. These accusations have damaged his image, which is why the decision was made to suspend him from his position as a public servant.
Authorities also arrested William W. Riley Jr., the commissioner’s attorney, on similar allegations.
The investigation states that both allegedly accepted more than $15,000 in contributions intended to support the judicial campaign of Díaz de la Portilla’s brother to the Miami-Dade County Court.
The pair was also accused of laundering about $245,000 in political contributions, which they concealed through a corporate bank account in Delaware.
Díaz de la Portilla also faces charges for allegedly managing two political committees, which he used to support his brother’s campaign and for personal purposes.
The Cuban-American had held his position since 2020, previously working as a state representative and senator.
After paying his bail, Díaz de la Portilla He denied all charges against him, stating that it was a campaign to tarnish his image before the next elections..
