The State of Florida has formally charged suspended Orange County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez with 14 counts, including racketeering, bribery, receipt of unlawful compensation for official behavior, grand theft and failure to report campaign contributions.
Fernandez was arrested last month at her campaign headquarters in East Orlando after accepting campaign contributions of $1,000 in one instance, in exchange for agreeing to fast track a proposed building project.
In responding to the formal charges, Fernandez’ attorney, Anthony Suarez said in a written statement he had received the information “accusing Mildred Fernandez of 14 counts of various types, from a news reporter.”
Suarez said he is awed by how the government is handling the case and how the law is used to “squash whatever is in their way”.
“To charge Mildred Fernandez with a crime that would essentially send her to jail for the rest of her life is such an abuse of power that it causes me to catch my breath and reflect on what it means when the law is out to get you,” Suarez said. “When the all powerful ‘arm of the powers that be’ decide that you are a threat to them, they will spare nothing to insure that they bury you so deep that you will forget your own name.”
Fernandez when she was first arrested said it was “politics.” Suarez echoed that sentiment suggesting that apparently Fernandez’ desire to run for Orange County mayor “did not sit well with many.”
At a news conference earlier this month following her arrest, Fernandez said that the charges brought against her were false and vowed to fight all accusations and make FDLE meet its burden of proof.
Governor Charlie Crist moved to suspend Fernandez shortly after her arrest, but is yet to name a replacement.
