Joe Carollo under scrutiny in court for alleged misuse of Miami Commission powers

Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo’s battle with the owners of a Little Havana nightclub has him in court. Several witnesses say he misused his powers.

Bill Fuller and Martin Pinilla filed a federal lawsuit against Carollo in 2018, alleging he abused his authority trying to shut down their restaurant-bar, Ball & Chain.

The trial, now underway, has been rough for Carollo. Former Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo, whom Carollo skewered for hours in September 2021 before his eventual termination, detailed Carollo’s vendetta and improper directives.

Several other officers, a former city manager and Carollo’s own former chief of staff gave similar testimony.

– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics