Investigation into Fraudulent Signatures in Coral Gables Recall Effort Nears Conclusion

CORAL GABLES, FL — A months-long investigation into alleged fraudulent signatures collected during last April’s failed recall effort against Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago appears to be nearing a conclusion.

The Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) have been actively interviewing residents in recent months, and sources close to the investigation suggest that an official announcement announcing a resolution to the case could be forthcoming.

If charges are filed, it would mark a significant victory for Governor Ron DeSantis’ newly created Office of Elections Integrity, which has prioritized investigations into potential election-related fraud and misconduct across Florida.

At the center of the recall controversy is the apparent falsification of signatures from residents, as well as the funding behind the effort to remove Lago from office.

Sources familiar with the recall effort indicate that apparently, the Miami-Dade County and Coral Gables Fire Unions were key financial backers of the initiative.

One source close to the recall campaign revealed that representatives from the unions initially promised over $200,000 to support the recall, but apparently only approximately $100,000 was actually contributed—falling short of the necessary funding to sustain the campaign. This financial shortfall ultimately led to the recall’s failure, according to the source.

The Miami Herald previously reported concerns that undisclosed “dark money” had been used to fund the recall, raising further questions about the origins and transparency of the effort.

Beyond the recall, tensions between Mayor Lago and the Fire Unions have been escalating over policy disputes, including Lago’s push to annex Little Gables—a move that the unions have opposed.

The unions have since thrown their full support behind Lago’s opponent, Commissioner Kirk Menendez, in the upcoming April 8th mayoral election.

Notably, Menendez received their endorsement without a screening process for other candidates, and the unions have been heavily investing in attack campaigns against Lago through text messages and emails.

The Floridian reached out to Commissioner Menendez for comment on whether he supported the involvement of dark money in Coral Gables elections, Commissioner Menendez could not be reached for comment.

Like, Commissioner Menendez, the presidents of both the Miami-Dade County and Coral Gables Fire Unions also could not be reached for comment after several attempts to do so.

As the investigation nears its conclusion, the potential legal fallout could have major political implications for Coral Gables and beyond. If wrongdoing is uncovered, it could serve as a warning to political organizations that election-related misconduct will not go unpunished.

For now, all eyes remain on the county State Attorney’s Office and FDLE as the city awaits the next developments in what could be a landmark case in Florida’s election integrity efforts.