OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Local leaders and community advocates gathered in Osceola County on Thursday to raise concerns about the upcoming election and the recent arrest of Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa.
Some leaders are questioning whether the timing of the arrest was politically motivated as voters prepare to head to the polls in less than two weeks.
Speakers from local organizations and political offices alleged that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier intentionally delayed the arrest to influence the political landscape ahead of the November election.
Espinosa is not on the ballot this year and is not seeking reelection.
During the news conference, Marcos Vilar, founder of Alianza for Progress, suggested the arrest should have occurred after the elections.
“What would you say is the correct timing, then, if you’re saying that this timing was on purpose?” Channel 9 Reporter Amy Diaz asked.
“The day after the election,” Vilar responded.
Not all leaders in attendance agreed with that assessment.
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Shortly after Vilar’s comments, Kissimmee City Commissioner Janette Martinez left the news conference and later told Channel 9 she did not share the same concerns about the timing of the arrest.
“You’re going to get arrested when you’re going to get arrested,” Martinez said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re the president. It doesn’t matter if you’re a city commissioner. It doesn’t matter if you’re a senator. If the law has determined that there is cause or probable cause and they make an arrest, the timing is when the timing is.”
Uthmeier addressed questions about the timing during a separate news conference in Polk County.
“This case has been in the works for a while,” Uthmeier said. “I don’t control necessarily when a judge signs an arrest warrant, but the minute it was signed, we went public to explain why we arrested.”
The arrest has sparked debate among some local leaders and residents, with differing views emerging over whether the timing was routine law enforcement procedure or could influence public perception ahead of the November elections.
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The investigation and legal proceedings involving Espinosa remain ongoing.
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