Spence-Jones takes aim at state attorney

Lawyer accuses state attorney of 'baseless criminal prosecutions'

MIAMI – Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones is targeting the state attorney in a new legal battle, accusing Katherine Fernandez Rundle of defaming her during her legal troubles. 

Spence-Jones was removed from office two years ago after the state attorney brought her up on the bribery and grand theft charges. She was reinstated to the Miami Commission in August after prosecutors decided not to pursue a grand theft charge against her and a jury acquitted her on charges stemming from accusations that she tried to bribe a developer. 

Now, Spence-Jones has hired a New York attorney, who is putting Fernandez Rundle on notice, charging her with "prosecutorial and investigatory misconduct, fraud, compelled self-incrimination, unlawful and unreasonable arrests, detention, seizures, conspiracy" and "baseless criminal prosecutions." 

Spence-Jones' attorney wrote that the state attorney caused Spence-Jones "humiliation, scorn, ridicule, physical harm and emotional/psychological distress." 

Though she was silent on the matter Tuesday at City Hall, Spence-Jones said she will have plenty to say about the state attorney in court.