Former controversial Florida state Senator Frank Artiles (R) received a rude awakening early this morning as Miami-Dade law enforcement officials raided his Palmetto. Bay home. The reason for the raiding is believed to be tied to an investigation that involves a no-party candidate that likely contributed to the swaying of a Miami-Dade Senate race.
On election night, while attending a party for another candidate, Artiles is alleged to have publically bragged about the “plant,” a candidate by the name of Alex Rodriguez, who had previously never been a candidate before. Rodriguez also had not been registered as a Republican until days before he filed as a candidate in the race. Florida Rep. Ileana Garcia (R) was the winner of the race with 34 votes after a three-day recount in the 2020 election.
Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle’s office released a statement, saying it could not “confirm or deny the existence of any possible investigation,” but officers from her public corruption office were present at the scene.
Erin Isaac, a spokeswoman for the Republican committee that ran Senate Republican campaigns, in December, argued that she wasn’t aware of Artiles’ involvement in the race of Senate District 37. Senate President Wilton Simpson (R), leader of the political committee, also argued that he was not aware of any involvement from Artiles in recruiting Rodriguez.
