In a stunning turn of events, Governor Ron DeSantis has signed an executive order immediately suspending Democratic North Miami Beach Mayor Anthony F. DeFillipo from his public office. DeFillipo’s arrest on three counts of felony voter fraud has sent shockwaves through the community and raised serious concerns about the integrity of our electoral system.
The executive order issued by Governor DeSantis states that DeFillipo is prohibited from performing any official acts, duties, or functions of public office. Furthermore, he will not receive any pay, allowance, or privileges associated with his position during the duration of this suspension. This order will remain in effect until a further Executive Order is issued or as provided by law.
If convicted on all counts, DeFillipo could face up to 15 years in prison. Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, a Democrat, expressed her belief that the evidence clearly shows DeFillipo voted illegally three times, even though he no longer resided in the North Miami Beach district.
“The deliberate swearing to false information, as alleged in this case, undermines the credibility of our voting and electoral systems,” Attorney Rundle declared.
DeFillipo’s attorney, Michael Pizzi, claims that the arrest is politically motivated and defends the mayor’s intentions. Pizzi stated, “The mayor has repeatedly explained, under oath, that he always intended to live in North Miami Beach.” According to DeFillipo’s attorney, his opponents filed a complaint with the ethics commission, alleging that the mayor did not reside in the city.
During an interview with NBC, DeFillipo admitted, “I totally forgot, it was an oversight, and I had it fixed immediately when I noticed. We’re human, we make mistakes.”
Following the news conference by State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, North Miami Beach spokesperson David F. Jeannot released a statement on behalf of the city. Jeannot expressed the city’s commitment to rebuilding trust within the community and working towards a more transparent and accountable city government.
As the legal process unfolds, the City of North Miami Beach will closely monitor the situation. The resilience of the community will be tested, but they remain determined to emerge stronger from this incident. The city expresses gratitude for the continued support as they strive to regain confidence in their local governance.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest updates on this developing story. The consequences of this voter fraud arrest are sure to reverberate throughout the state and raise crucial questions about the integrity of our electoral processes.
BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order to immediately suspend North Miami Beach Mayor @tonydefillipo
DeFillipo was arrested on charges related to voting irregularities
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) June 5, 2023
We in law enforcement take actions which violate our election laws very seriously. They are crimes. Today, we are charging Anthony DeFillipo, the present Mayor @NorthMiamiBeach, with 3 counts of Unqualified Voters Willfully Voting, 3rd degree felonies. pic.twitter.com/pUICntyegS
— Kathy Rundle (@KathyFndzRundle) May 31, 2023
Gov. DeSantis suspends Florida mayor after arrest over illegal voting allegations https://t.co/36aGtBGicA pic.twitter.com/DLM50iLVAK
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) June 5, 2023