Complaints 15-04 and 15-05 and 15-06:

The Advocates Botched Analysis & Presentations

@ 24.43

In response (to Bellido) whether Ed Russo was drafted

to substitute as a lobbyist in lieu of Carlos J.
Gimenez for Donald Trump regarding Crandon Park,
Kendall Coffey answers:
There was never a specific proposal that the County
was considering. There was never an agenda item even
for this [Crandon Park Master Plan Advisory
Committee].
Russo personally emailed Trumps transmittal letter and
10-page formal proposal to the County on July 2, 2014
at 11:04 a.m. Russo personally emailed the project pro
forma at 11:15 a.m. Russo personally emailed the 10page collection of resumes of project sub-consultants
at 4:46 p.m.
The Advisory Committee, a creature of County
government, and whose meetings are convened by County
government and are held in County offices, met
specifically to consider the Trump/Russo proposal on
December 18, 2014. Russo was there. He was first on the
agenda. Russo presented to the committee, as reflected
in its minutes.
The Advocate, Michael Murawski, knew all of that and
has a copy of everything in his file. Murawski did not
utter a single word to correct Coffeys incredibly
erroneous testimony.

@ 27:01

Murawski, introducing the complaint against Trump:

15-04 would be the allegation against Mr. Trump for
failing to register as a lobbyist while he was having
a discussion with the mayor while on the golf course
[in October 2013]. I think weve done a pretty good
investigation here as to what happened on the golf
course.
Trumps lobbying activities commenced with his March 5
letter to Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez, which included a
framework Initial Offer, and continued with Trumps

July 2 letter to county parks Director Jack Kardys (and

its included formal proposal/pro forma/team resumes
emailed by Russo), and Trumps July 30 check to the
county for $25,000.
Murawski has all four lobbying documents, each signed
by Trump, in his file. Murawski framed his entire
recommendation regarding Trump around the golf game
only. Murawski entirely ignored Trumps personal,
ongoing, formal, written lobbying activities that
followed many months later.
@ 34:17

In response (to Bellido) whether there were any further

communications between Trump and Gimenez following the
Crandon golf course meet and greet, Murawski answers:
Not many so March 5, 2014 Trump sends a letter to
Gimenez. Gimenez then delegates, Gimenez delegates the
response to the letter to Jack Kardys, the parks
director, so Gimenez doesnt even respond to that
personally.
Entirely wrong. Gimenez personally signed the letter
response to Trump dated April 15, 2014, on the mayors
formal county stationery. Murawski has a copy of the
Gimenez letter in his file. What could be more wrong
about Murawskis testimony?

@ 35:40

In response (to unrecognized female Commission member)

whether his son and [Mayor] Gimenez ever talked about
this ever, Murawski answers:
Theres no indication that the mayors son was
involved in this deal at all.
That provokes a follow-up question (same Commission
member): Did you ask Mayor Gimenez if he and his son
had ever talked about it casually or otherwise?
Murawski answers:
I dont recall if I ever asked him that.
In fact, Mayor Gimenez and his son DID discuss Trumps
proposal. Murawski has a copy of the proof of the
Gimenezes conversation in his file. Murawski should
should have answered affirmatively, that there was such
a conversation.

@ 36:50

Murawski states: So the last piece of the puzzle is, I

guess, 15-06, that is the complaint against the mayor
We were a little bit unclear about what he [Crespo] was
alleging the mayor did. What we came up with was that
there is a section of our code that Ive cited that
talks about, Section 2-11.1(s)(10) that says all
members of the County Commission and all county
personnel shall be diligent to ascertain whether
persons required to register have complied. And I
believe Mr. Crespos allegation here was that Gimenez
was not diligent in ascertaining whether or not Trump
was registered as a lobbyist when they were out on the
golf course So since the conclusion was that Mr.
Trump was not required to be registered as a lobbyist,
because he wasnt lobbying on the golf course, then
there would be no need for the mayor to ascertain
diligently whether or not Mr. Trump was registered as
a lobbyist.
If Murawski was unclear about Crespos complaint, why
didnt he ask Crespo to clarify it? Alternatively, why
didnt Murawski read Crespos letter with greater care?
Crespos complaint against Gimenez had nothing to do
with being diligent. Crespos complaint alleged that
Gimenez had failed to comply with County Code Section
2-11.1(bb), well removed from the section Murawski,
inexplicably, was drawn to on an apparent hunch.
Section 2-11.1(bb) states: Affidavit required. Each
person who is elected to serve as a member of the Board
of County Commissioners or as Mayor of Miami-Dade
County shall execute an affidavit, on a form prepared
by the Ethics Commission, stating that he or she has
read the Miami-Dade County Conflict of Interest and
Code of Ethics Ordinance and agrees to comply with the
provisions of said ordinance. Each elected official
covered by the requirements of this subsection shall
file the required affidavit with the Ethics Commission
prior to being sworn into office.
Carlos A. Gimenez was sworn into office as Mayor of
Miami-Dade County on July 1, 2011. He filed the
required affidavit with the Ethics Commission on June
25, 2015 one week after Crespo filed his specific
complaint.