When Miami Mayor Francis Suarez finally spoke Tuesday about the firing of Police Chief Art Acevedo — who he personally brought from Houston in April — he wasn’t using his own words.
Suarez was reading from talking points provided to him by Miami spokeswoman Soledad Cedro. Suarez’s little speech, in its entirety, was emailed by Cedro just before 10 p.m. Monday to his Chief of Staff Nikolas Pascual, Deputy Chief of Staff, Otto Boudet, as well as Rosy Kuper, his “special” assistant.
Ladra must thank Suarez for leaving that treasure behind and filmmaker and veteran political agitator Billy Corben for picking it up.
Read related: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez weighs in, agrees on firing Chief Art Acevedo
After the short speech, there is a note to “be ready for follow-up questions” and some prepackaged answers to provide the media. Questions like “Do you regret hiring him,” and “Why didn’t you talk about this issue before?”
My personal favorites are on the second page.
“Is your personal security part of the issue that ended Acevedo’s career in the City of Miami?” The suggested answer: “Due to the active criminal investigation, I cannot comment beyond what I shared earlier.”
The real answer, obviously, is yes. That’s why they expect the question.
But then, the mayor is encouraged to share in the very next answer to “Did Acevedo take a bullet for you?” The packaged answer: “Regarding this investigation, the chief was simply doing his job and holding people accountable. None of this has been or is personal in any way.”
Of course he is referring to Suarez’s former Sergeant at Arms, Officer Luis Camacho, who was relieved of duty on suspicion that he leaked information about the mayor’s whereabouts during a vacation with family in the Florida Keys to former officer Francisco “Frank” Pichel, who was working for Commissioner Joe Carollo to get dirt on Baby X. Inquiring minds want to know what else Camacho shared with Pichel.
But he could be talking about the Three Amigos — commissioners Joe Carollo, Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Manolo Reyes — who have been accused of misconduct by the chief. “The chief was simply doing his job and holding people accountable.” Right?
Read related: Chief Art Acevedo fights back, reports misconduct by Miami city electeds
But if, indeed, the chief was taking a bullet for Suarez and protecting the mayor’s interests, the mayor paid him back by throwing him under the bus at the press conference, after avoiding the press for two weeks and, instead, celebrating his birthday.
The best part of this very telling “talking points” email is at the very end, when someone wrote by hand further notes and messages like “no winners or losers” and “turn the page.”
It also reminds him to show “humility.” As if! Baby X is incapable of showing any sign of weakness as he climbs the political ladder with a growing national facade as a modern, tech savvy leader.
Univision 23 reporter Erika Carillo gets a shout out, in case someone asked about her being manhandled and nearly pushed off the stairs by one of what looks like three bodyguards for the mayor. “Tropieza en un espacio limitado,” it says. “She tripped in a limited [small] space.”
We all know she didn’t trip. We all saw her being blocked and, actually, assaulted by what is probably a police officer. Ladra hopes Erika has talked to an attorney because the city sure is trying to walk it back.
You can use this email as part of your evidence.
Mayor Francis Suarez leaves his cheat notes on Art Acevedo at press podium added by Ladra on
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