Carollo breaks silence, answers questions about legal fees, lawsuit
MIAMI - City of Miami taxpayers will not cover the legal fees for Commissioner Joe Carollo.
There is an insurance policy to cover attorneys' expenses, this is what commissioners are saying.
In a sit-down interview with Commissioner Carollo, CBS News Miami asked him about the legal fees to cover the trial where a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale sided with businessman Bill Fuller, owner of Ball and Chain and developer Martin Pinilla.
"The city has insurance," said Carollo. According to him, through a couple of ideas he negotiated, not disclosing what they were. He alleges having brought a lot of money to the municipality.
"The City of Miami has received approximately 540 million dollars… (because of me). Do you think I should get a little bit of credit for that?
Insurance paid - so far - $1.9 million dollars for Carollo's legal defense.
CBS News Miami's Ivan Taylor asked Carollo, "Because you brought a certain amount of money, should you be entitled to have the city pay for your legal expenses?
"I'm entitled because it's a state law," said the commissioner for District 3 of the City of Miami.
The insurance payment seemingly became known because other commissioners said they were bombarded with messages and calls at their offices. That is what Savina Covo and Manolo Reyes said on Thursday.
"People had a lot of questions that were not answered," told CBS News Manolo Reyes.
According to Reyes less than 72 hours ago he received an answer to his questions, and he was not happy for that.
"If there is insurance and I should've been told before, the city has to protect itself."
The commission chair released a statement, saying:
"The City of Miami is fiscally responsible and accountable to its residents. It maintains insurance coverage for legal challenges and will not pass the burden to its residents. Legal fees in this instance are covered by an insurance policy...
… State statutes and common law that afford elected officials: federal state and local are entitled to legal representation until all remedies at law are exhausted"
Chairwoman Christine King, Miami City Commission, said, "It has been made clear that he has to pay for the fine, if its $63 million or whichever amount it is," said Covo, Commissioner for District 2.
But Carollo says he's not going to pay.
"There should be no doubt I will appeal, " said Carollo.
When asked if the City of Miami would also pay for this appeal he said, "The City of Miami has had insurance, something that I was not able to talk about. That's how the 1.9 million dollars was paid for," said Carollo, adding "This is state law, can you imagine any elected official at my level could be sued by rich and powerful individuals?"
This morning, some city's residents got to voice their displeasure with the controversial commissioner.
"I think Commissioner Joe Carollo should resign. I think you're a criminal and shame on you," said voter Thomas Kennedy.
"We respectfully ask that you step down," said Christi Tasker, who's running for a city commission seat.
CBS Miami asked Commissioner Carollo if he intends to resign.
"No, because the residents who elected me by 65%, barely over a year ago, expect me to serve my time."