Francis Suarez Under Media's Microscope for Hosting Saudi Event

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) has oddly become the newest target of mainstream media in Florida.  The Miami Herald recently released an investigative report on the Miami Mayor for his upcoming conference with Saudi Arabian officials. The Herald even sent out a "News Alert" of the event.

Does the Herald have a bone to pick with Mayor Suarez?  Although the mayor does have his share of questionable business dealings, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner (D) who was also targeted by the Miami Herald for alleged sexual harrassment, is not considered news, let alone worthy of a "news alert."

"Before Meiner was elected mayor, the Herald reported that three former SEC employees, including two former interns, claimed he had made unwelcome advances toward them when they worked together. The ongoing human resources probe represents an escalation of concerns about Meiner’s behavior toward women at the SEC. According to eight current or former employees, those concerns have been quietly discussed for years among workers at the agency but seemingly never resulted in discipline,” reported the Herald on the allegations against Meiner.

Suarez however, is now taking shots for his claimed effort to make Miami a hub for sports across the world. Mayor Suarez will be hosting a networking conference funded by the Saudis’ sovereign wealth fund.  This is now coming under investigation by the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs as part of an inquiry into the Saudis’ broader effort to repair the country’s reputation abroad.

Critics have claimed that this event legitimizes the deeds of the "Saudi regime, rehabilitating the country’s bloody human rights reputation."

In response to the backlash, Suarez stood his ground stating he is, "honored to participate."  Suarez's communications director added, "Mayor Suarez was invited to speak about how the city is becoming the world’s next capital of sports and about Miami’s continued success as an international business hub where new, positive developments such as the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted."

The Miami Herald is reported to have reached out to the Mayor's office for comment on Saudi Arabia's record on human rights.