Embattled Doral Mayor Christi Fraga facing FEC complaint over false Miami-Dade GOP endorsement

DORAL, Fla. -  The Doral Community Coalition announced on Friday that a complaint was filed at the Florida Elections Commission, or FEC, against Doral Mayor Christi Fraga for violating state law after she falsely claimed she was endorsed by the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County.

“As a career politician who has held multiple public offices, Christi Fraga should know better than to claim an endorsement she never earned or received. Not only is it unethical and illegal, but it is also a malicious attempt to deceive voters," former Doral Community Coalition President Norberto Spangaro said in a release.

Fraga's chaired "Leaders of Tomorrow" political committee and election campaign were also cited in the complaint.

According to the release, Fraga posted fake endorsements from the Republican Party of Miami-Dade County on her Instagram and X accounts. It also noted Fraga's political committee sent out a large postcard to thousands of Doral residents touting the endorsement.

Following the claim, Miami-Dade Republican Chairman Alexo Rizo denied the endorsement and asked Fraga to remove the fake endorsements from social media.

“Mayor Fraga should immediately issue a retraction and apologize both to Doral voters for intentionally lying to them, and to her special interest contributors for using their money to spread her lies," Spangaro added.

Under Florida Statute, “It is unlawful for any candidate or person on behalf of a candidate to represent that any person or organization supports such candidate unless the person
or organization so represented has given specific approval in writing to the candidate to make
such representation.”

This isn't the only controversy Fraga has faced recently. Last month, it was reported that Fraga and the City of Doral had been paying a filmmaker who once praised Venezuelan Dictator Hugo Chavez.

If that wasn't enough, Fraga's Chief of Staff Marion Troitino also was accused of being a Venezuelan spy. Moreover, Troitino added to the soap opera by accusing a Doral City Councilwoman of working with her clients via the city's computer.

In May, Fraga received backlash for sponsoring a "peace and security" resolution over the ongoing Israel-Palestine War. According to Fraga, the resolution was rescinded and later replaced due to an "honest mistake."