Joe Carollo testifies in trial over business targeting, says witnesses have ‘gripes’ against him

Miami Commissioner Joe Carollo, who is being sued for $2.5 million for allegedly “weaponizing” his office against the owners of a popular nightclub, says he’s completely innocent and those who say otherwise “all have gripes.”

Numerous witnesses, including three former police chiefs and a former city manager, testified that Carollo used city resources to target Bill Fuller, Martin Pinilla and their businesses, including the Ball & Chain bar.

“That’s absolutely not true,” Carollo said on the stand Monday, denying accusations of impropriety, racist comments and coercing a former secretary into lying about being sexually harassed by two of his former aides.

– Jesse Scheckner, Florida Politics