Former Mayors' Public Corruption Case Delayed
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Two former South Florida mayors and two former lobbyists appeared in federal court Tuesday asking a judge to delay their arraignment date.
The judge agreed to reschedule the case for mid-September.
Meanwhile, embattled ex-Miami Lakes mayor Michael Pizzi broke his silence after the hearing and said he did nothing wrong.
"All I ever did was to act in my city's best interest and do good things for the city. I was a good mayor and a good attorney and I have God on my side and I expect to be exonerated," Pizzi told a group of reporters.
Click Here To Watch The Rest of What He Had To Say
Pizzi along with former Sweetwater Mayor Manuel Maroño were arrested August 6th and charged with conspiracy to commit extortion. Pizzi allegedly received $5,000 in cash kickbacks for the Miami Lakes grant deal and an additional $1,000 cash and $750 in campaign contributions for a deal in Medley, according to the FBI.
"I did absolutely nothing wrong," Pizzi said. Two lobbyists – Jorge Forte and Richard Candia – were also arrested in connection with the bribery scheme.
