KISSIMMEE, Fla. — The Florida Commission on Ethics has found probable cause to believe Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa violated state ethics law in connection with grant money awarded through the city’s Boost 2.0 program.
The latest finding stems from a complaint filed by Kissimmee resident Lillian Evans, whose allegations centered on $50,000 in city grant money awarded to businesses connected to Espinosa and her family.
Channel 9 Investigates first reported on the Boost 2.0 grants last year.
READ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Probable cause found to impeach Mayor Jackie Espinosa
The Boost 2.0 program used federal COVID-19 relief money to help Kissimmee businesses that struggled during the pandemic. Previous records reviewed by Channel 9 showed businesses tied to Espinosa and members of her family received a combined $50,000 through the program.
The Commission on Ethics’ probable-cause finding does not amount to a final determination that Espinosa violated the law. It allows the case to move forward, including the possibility of a public hearing.
The mayor was cleared of other allegations considered as part of the complaint.
Separate impeachment effort failed last month
The state ethics case is separate from an earlier investigation conducted under Kissimmee’s city ethics process.
In July, court-appointed special prosecutor Mayanne Downs found probable cause to pursue impeachment proceedings against Espinosa on three allegations related to Boost 2.0.
Kissimmee commissioners later voted 2-2 on whether to move forward with an impeachment trial, meaning the effort failed to advance.
READ MORE: Impeachment articles fail to pass for Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa
Mayor responds
In a social media post Wednesday, Espinosa wrote, “Kissimmee is bigger than the noise.”
“Our residents deserve our focus, and our community deserves our energy. And our city’s future deserves our attention,” Espinosa wrote.
She also said she expects the ethics process to give her an opportunity to publicly address the findings.
“Stay tuned as the Commission on Ethics allow us the opportunity to discuss the findings for 4 of the 6 complaints that have been presented,” Espinosa wrote. “So much will be revealed. Timing is our best ally and I will finally be able to express my position.”
The next step in the state ethics process could include a public hearing on the allegations.
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