Miami-Dade Commissioner Martinez blames prosecutor for ‘false’ criminal charges

Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe Martinez, who is facing a criminal charge and is expected to surrender to authorities, is blaming the county’s prosecutor for “false” charges that are politically motivated ahead of his possible run for sheriff in 2024.

The statement released by Martinez lawyer Benedict Kuehne said the pending surrender and prosecution “raise questions of political impact.” Martinez, a Republican and retired police lieutenant, has “publicly disagreed” with Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, a Democrat, over issues related to the creation of an independent sheriff’s office ahead of the 2024 elections, according to the statement.

“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,” the statement said.

“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,” the statement said.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade commissioner facing criminal charge

Martinez is expected to surrender on Tuesday and Fernandez Rundle is scheduled to hold a press conference in the afternoon on the charges.

The criminal charges stem from money paid to Martinez as he prepared legislation that would benefit a shopping center in West Miami-Dade, according to multiple people familiar with the probe. Martinez will be charged with unlawful compensation.

“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,” the Kuehne statement said.

That statement was more toned down than an earlier version the Miami Herald obtained Monday morning and which a Martinez representative described as a draft. That earlier statement, which circulated beyond Martinez’s legal and public relations team, called the pending charges “politically motivated.”

A Fernandez Rundle representative declined to comment.

If Martinez is charged with a crime, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis could name a temporary replacement on the county board.

The draft statement cast the “apparently public conflict” with Fernandez Rundle as a “matter that will be presented to Florida Governor DeSantis.” The final statement did not mention DeSantis.

The sheriff’s office, abolished in Miami-Dade in the 1960s, is coming back under a new amendment to the Florida Constitution. Martinez has argued for Miami-Dade turning over most police resources to the new sheriff, while Miami-Dade’s Democratic mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, wants the county to retain its current police department.

The two statements offer the first public details of the charges Martinez faces. The final statement said Martinez, who has reported income from a private security firm, has been under investigation for five years for “false allegations arising from his private practice work as a consultant when he was a private citizen and not an elected official.”

Andre Diaz, a Martinez representative, said the earlier version of the press release “was an initial draft that the team is still discussing.” About an hour later, the final statement was released by Kuehne.

Martinez has held the County Commission District 11 seat since 2016 and was campaigning to be the board’s next chairman as he weighed a potential run for the reinstated office of Miami-Dade sheriff in 2024. He also held the District 11 seat between 2000 and 2012 before giving up the seat.

The final statement

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.

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.

Martinez, who served the public interest for more than four decades as a highly decorated and now retired Miami-Dade police officer who received two gold medals and one silver medal for his service, was twice named Miami-Dade Police Officer of the Year, and received the Life Saving Award. He is a well-respected Miami-Dade Commissioner who was being considered for Commission Chair following the November elections. 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 draft statement

State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle directed Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez to surrender this week based on false and politically motivated allegations arising from his private practice work as a consultant when he was a private citizen and not an elected official. The investigation has been ongoing for five years, so the bringing of these allegations that do not involve Commissioner Martinez’s time in public office appear to be politically timed when he is considered the front runner for the newly created Sheriff of Miami-Dade County.

Martinez, who served the public interest for more than four decades as a highly decorated and now retired Miami-Dade police officer who received two gold medals and one silver medal for his service, was twice named Miami-Dade Police Officer of the Year, and received the Life Saving Award. He is a well-respected Miami-Dade Commissioner who was being considered for Commission Chair following the November elections. As an outspoken Republican on the Commission, Commissioner Martinez has publicly disagreed with the Democratic State Attorney on important issues, the most recent of which is the role of and funding for the Sheriff’s Office. Whether this apparent public conflict influenced the State Attorney’s charging decision is a matter that will be presented to Florida Governor Desantis.

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.

Miami Herald reporter David Ovalle contributed to this report.

This story was originally published August 29, 2022 at 6:55 AM.