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Florida ethics board clears Francis Suarez in VIP tickets probe
Investigation concluded Miami mayor repaid billionaire Ken Griffin for access to Miami Grand Prix soiree
From left: Mayor of Miami Francis Suarez and billionaire Ken Griffin (Photo Illustration by Steven Dilakian for The Real Deal with Getty)
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez beat allegations that he accepted illegal freebie invites to swanky VIP events, including a Miami Grand Prix party hosted by billionaire Ken Griffin.
The Florida Commission on Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a complaint against Suarez after an investigation concluded that he reimbursed Griffin for two tickets to the Citadel founder’s lavish event during the Formula 1 race at Hard Rock Stadium last year, Miami New Times reported.
The commission found “no probable cause to believe” Suarez accepted gifts in exchange for political favors.
In a statement posted Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter, Suarez took a victory lap. “Today’s bipartisan and unanimous exoneration provides irrefutable proof that the vicious and politically motivated attacks on Mayor Suarez’s character are completely inaccurate and without merit,” the statement said.
Thomas Kennedy, the Miami resident who filed the complaint against Suarez, told Miami New Times that the Florida ethics commission gave the mayor a pass by ruling that other VIP events Suarez attended for free were for official city business. He criticized the watchdog agency for a “poorly conducted investigation.”
Kennedy’s complaint alleged that Suarez failed to disclose the VIP tickets as gifts valued at over $100. It also noted that Florida ethics law bars individuals and companies from gifting government officials anything worth more than $100 while they have business pending before a municipal or county agency.
In addition to the race tickets from Griffin, Suarez also received improper freebies to attend VIP events such as the World Cup in Qatar and the Sobe Food and Wine Festival last year, the complaint alleged.
Griffin, CEO of hedge fund Citadel, and Suarez have vehemently denied any wrongdoing, and have repeatedly told press outlets, including The Real Deal, that the mayor paid for two tickets to the Miami Grand Prix party.
In July, Suarez paid $14,000 via check to a Griffin entity to cover tickets for the race soiree and another event the same weekend at Carbone in Miami Beach headlined by Griffin and fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, state ethics investigators found.
Griffin is planning a $1 billion supertall office tower in Miami’s Brickell that will be the headquarters for Citadel and Citadel Securities.
The planned project will include a high-end hotel in the upper floors. Griffin is also seeking city of Miami approval to move a historic home on the waterfront estate previously owned by local philanthropist Adrienne Arsht. Griffin bought the 4-acre property for $106 million in 2022.
– Francisco Alvarado