Miami commissioner sues mayor, state attorney

A Miami city commissioner is suing the mayor and the county's top prosecutor, claiming an unsuccessful corruption case against her was a conspiracy based on a political vendetta.

The 114-page federal lawsuit seeking unspecified damages was filed Monday by commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones against Mayor Tomas Regalado, State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle and two others.

Click here to read the lawsuit

Spence-Jones was charged with bribery and grand theft and removed from office in 2010 by then-Gov. Charlie Crist. But a jury acquitted her of bribery and the grand theft charges were dropped and Spence-Jones returned to the city commission.

The lawsuit accuses Regalado and Fernandez Rundle of working together on a fabricated and malicious corruption case intended to drive Spence-Jones from office.

Regalado said he never spoke with Fernandez Rundle about Spence-Jones.

"Totally absurd. That's ridiculous," said Regalado. "The next thing they're going to say is I was involved in Afghanistan with the mujahedeen."

Fernandez Rundle's office said the lawsuit is under review, issuing a statement, saying: “We will review the complaint and will respond and challenge it at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.”