![\"Former](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MIA_PACHECOCODEENFORCEMENT1109JAI.JPG\" "\\"Former")
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Former Miami City Commissioner Sabina Covo, on Oct. 12, 2023.<\/p>\n
Jose A. Iglesias<\/p>\n
jiglesias@elnuevoherald.com<\/p>\n
Former Miami City Commissioner Sabina Covo has been cleared in a bribery investigation that probed whether she offered political opponents jobs with the city in exchange for their endorsements in the 2023 election.<\/p>\n
The investigation centered on events surrounding the November 2023 election for the city\u2019s District 2 seat. Covo, the incumbent, had placed first in the general election but failed to secure more than 50% of the vote, landing her in a runoff with second-place finisher Damian Pardo. Candidate Eddy Leal placed third, followed by James Torres in fourth. Covo ultimately lost in the runoff<\/a> to Pardo, who is the current District 2 commissioner.<\/p>\n Between the general election and the runoff, Covo and Pardo both campaigned to receive endorsements from Leal and Torres, Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Weil wrote in a memo closing out the case with no charges filed. Torres had alleged that Covo offered him a job at the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency if he agreed to endorse her, Weil wrote, noting that Torres \u201cbelieves that Covo may have convinced Leal to endorse her by offering him a job.\u201d<\/p>\n The Broward State Attorney\u2019s Office, however, concluded that there is \u201cinsufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt\u201d that Covo offered a job in exchange for an endorsement.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter a complete and thorough investigation into allegations of public corruption, the Broward State Attorney\u2019s Office has reached the same conclusion we maintained from the very beginning: Commissioner Sabina Covo did absolutely nothing wrong,\u201d Dave Kubiliun, an attorney for Covo, said in a statement.<\/p>\n READ MORE: New emails deepen scandal around Miami election endorsement and bribery investigation<\/a><\/p>\n The Broward SAO closed the case more than a year ago, in January 2025. But Kubiliun said he only recently learned about the case\u2019s closure after contacting the agency for an update.<\/p>\n \u201cIn response, we were informed that the investigation had actually been closed for more than a year due to \u2018insufficient evidence\u2019 to proceed with any case against Commissioner Covo,\u201d Kubiliun said. \u201cWe are pleased that this matter has finally been clarified and that the investigation confirms what we have consistently maintained all along and that is, Commissioner Covo acted appropriately and lawfully. Justice has been served.\u201d<\/p>\n Covo was initially elected to a shortened term as the District 2 commissioner in February 2023 to fill the vacancy created when former Commissioner Ken Russell resigned to run for Congress. She is now working as a communications consultant and is a campaign spokesperson<\/a> for Lev Parnas, a Democrat running for the Miami congressional seat held by Republican U.S. Rep. Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar.<\/p>\n Leal, who was the third-place finisher in the general election<\/a> for the District 2 seat, is now chief of staff to City Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela.<\/p>\n Follow More of Our Reporting on City of Miami<\/p>\n