KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Embattled Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa took to social media Wednesday night taking journalists who covered her impeachment inquiry to task while praising the State Ethics Commission looking into claims she used her position to be financially benefit her family.
“Today, I decided to do something not traditional,” Espinosa said in a Facebook live post. “Today, I decided I was going to speak to the people of Kissimmee through social media.”
“Some of you are not reporters. Some are not journalists. Some are trying to be influencers. I am not here to be clickbait,” she said.
Espinosa’s live recording came just hours after a State Ethics Commission found she violated state ethics law in connection with the Boost 2.0 program. Espinosa’s family businesses received $50,000 in Covid relief money through Boost 2.0 which Espinosa had a hand in creating.
“The commission found probable cause to believe there was a violation of Florida statute 112.313,” said Espinosa. “I have 14 days of this order to request a public hearing. My attorneys are working on this in writing.”
“The Commission on Ethics owns the explanation of this process, and the important point is that it is not the final determination that a violation has been committed,” she said. “ I have found the work of the Commission on Ethics to be thorough, professional, and extremely fair.”
Espinosa said she plans to do another Facebook live in Spanish on Thursday evening.
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