NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A 32-page interim investigative report by an independent law firm outlines several allegations against North Miami Beach Mayor Michael Joseph.
The report obtained by Local 10 on Tuesday comes after city commissioners passed a resolution last month requesting the probe.
According to the Algo Law Firm, multiple city employees were interviewed.
The report states that one employee claims the mayor “contacted him by phone and requested that he alter the official interview recordings for City Manager candidate Marline Monastime. The mayor’s demands included disconnecting the recording equipment and editing the recordings.”
The allegation suggests that Joseph asked an employee to alter official government records, a potential violation of state public records laws.
Employees raised questions about some of the mayor’s travel expenses to Japan. The report states, “including an upgrade to First Class resulting in a charge in excess of $3,000 to the City.”
Employees also expressed concerns about vendors, alleging the mayor recommended, encouraged, or interfered with specific vendor selections.
“The mayor’s treatment of the employees and staff, the potential actions that he has influenced staff to use certain vendors -- That’s very concerning,” said North Miami Beach Vice Mayor Fortuna Smukler ahead of Tuesday’s commission meeting.
Joseph called the report “inaccurate” in a statement to Local 10 News on Tuesday.
“This report is inaccurate and feels more like political theater than an actual investigation. It’s disappointing that the people’s business is being sidetracked by these tactics. What’s especially concerning is that I’m the only person named in the report, even though other elected officials and senior staff are mentioned multiple times," the statement read. "Any conclusions based on this rushed, incomplete report are unfair and premature. Let’s be clear: This review only started less than two weeks ago. It’s a very preliminary report, and there’s absolutely nothing in it to back up these claims—no attachments, no evidence. The public deserves a real, thorough investigation, not one that’s driven by half-baked conclusions. I’m looking forward to a full, transparent investigation by the State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Commission on Ethics, where the truth can come out. The people deserve nothing less.”
The report has been added to the agenda for Tuesday’s commission meeting. Officials note this is not the finalized report.
The report also recommends further investigation into other staff and the potential submission of a final report to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for possible criminal investigation.
Read the full report in the document below.
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