Columbian-born Sabina Covo is under investigation for money laundering, bribery, and remuneration by candidate for services, support, and other charges.
On February 1, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis issued his fifteenth Executive Order of 2024. Executive orders 24-15 involve the turnover of Miami Commissioner candidate Sabina Covo’s investigation from Katherine Rundle to the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida.
State of Florida Attorney General for Miami Dade County, Katherine Fernandez advised the Governor that a key witness in this case is a close associate of the state attorney’s office. Throughout this article, we recount who the “eyewitness” could be. Our Newsbreak article contains more information >>> Under Investigation: Miami Commissioner Sabina Covo
Mrs. Rundle wants to avoid a conflict of interest or any appearance of impropriety, so she has voluntarily disqualified herself and has requested the executive assignment of another State Attorney regarding the investigation and prosecution of this case and all related matters regarding Sabina Covo.
Honorable HAROLD F. PRYOR, State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, has agreed to accept an executive assignment to oversee the prosecution.
What I find is the same recycled politicians participating in the Miami Corruption Cocktail. Just so we can catch everyone up, it’s important to note:
I ran against Ms. Covo in the first February 27, 2023 Special Election and the second November 7, 2023 election which resulted in a run-off against Sabina Covo as the incumbent and current commissioner Damian Pardo. ~Christi Tasker
How long did Sabina Covo serve as Miami District Commissioner?
After winning a nine-month term based on a special election for District 2 Miami City Commissioner, former Commissioner and mom of three Sabina Covo had a short tenure in Miami City Hall.
During the first election, Covo informed the public it would take her nine months to get the office ready. And now, no thanks to her loss of less than 300 votes, the office holder is Commissioner Damian Pardo.
Rumor has it Sabina Covo could have blown the whistle on corruption within City Hall and if she did, was she targeted?
We’re left with so many questions so I hope this article expands to give more insights to the deserving City of Miami residents.
When texting Ms. Covo today, on a Saturday at 4 pm, she did provide this statement to me via text…
Former Commissioner Sabina Covo responds to Banana Republic regarding the investigation…
This is quite surprising as I haven’t been contacted by any agency or the Governor’s office. I led with the highest ethics and integrity and any review of my tenure, including my campaigns will confirm as such. I candidly do not know what the investigation involves but I do know is that I conducted myself and my office with the utmost good-faith, ethics, and with sole interests of the residents of the City of Miami and District 2, where I live with my husband and three children. ~Former District 2, City of Miami Commissioner, Sabina Covo
Sabina, I appreciate your response.
Damian Pardo Wins Election With Less Than 300 Votes
Sabina Covo lost the November 7, 2023 election to Mr. Pardo when she lost by less than 300 votes. Pardo will serve a full four-year term whereas Covo was only elected to fill the seat Ken Russell vacated when he attempted to run for Congress. I (Christi Tasker), was also a candidate in both the District 2 race against Covo and the second race against both Pardo and Covo.
As a member of the Election Brigade of Miami-Dade County, I have reached out to Covo to ask if she considered inspecting the ballots. At that point, she said her campaign manager Christian Ulvert had not brought up the inspection process. And that she was exhausted and wanted to get her life back and re-establish her business.
Covo was accused of promising Eddy Leal a job in exchange for an endorsement, the person making the accusation is James Torres, a known criminal
Eddy Leal, the former mayor’s office counsel to Mayor Francis Suarez suddenly endorsed incumbent Commissioner Sabina Covo. Leal came in third on Nov. 7, with 15% of the vote, which translates to 1,071 voters according to Political Cortaditio. Mayor Francis Suarez, Sabina Covo, Eddy Leal, and Judge Martin Zilber are known friends.
Candidate and hothead Hotwire salesman James Torres reported the quid pro quo on the Because Miami podcast with Billy Corben, who posted it on X/ Twitter. Downtowners and former Downtown Neighbors Alliance board and community members accused Torres of abusing his power as the unpaid volunteer DNA president. They claim he stole the DNA email list and used DNA sources to obtain 10% (or 735 votes). Regardless, Torres endorsed Pardo.
Covo says it never happened. “It is categorically and unequivocally false what Mr. Torres is alleging. At no point whatsoever did a conversation occur about any employment,” she posted.
Torres said he got calls from both candidates and sat down with each. He said Pardo asked how he could help, and what he could do for the district. Then he sat down with Covo.
“It was very dark and grayish in a way. She said, ‘I need your support. What is going to take?’ And, ‘Can I offer you a position at the Omni CRA as a contractor making a $120,000 a year?”
It is categorically and unequivocally false what Mr. Torres is alleging. At no point whatsoever did a conversation occur about any employment. In fact, the Omni CRA last month hired its new Executive Director, just to show how far fetched the claims are by Mr. Torres.
After… pic.twitter.com/gsmelARjOK
— Sabina Covo (@SabinaCovo) November 17, 2023
Covo Confirmed Chaos at City Hall
Publicly during the campaign, Covo claimed she arrived in a mess and technically had no District 2 office on her first day at City Hall. Former District 1 Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla had removed the office furniture and took over the additional office which should have been the District 2 office. But Alex Diaz la Portilla left her with no office but turned over his beloved Omni CRA to her at the end of her nine-month tenure. It was too little too late. Hopefully, Pardo will take the lead and spend the money wisely.
Coincidences Swirling Around Sabina Covo In The Miami Corruption Cocktail
Alex Dia de La Portilla is a Campaign Consultant to Christian Ulvert, Sabina Covo’s Campaign Manager
Coincidently, already arrested Alex Diaz de la Portilla, the same Commissioner with the ghost employees who took Covo’s District 2 office, and failed to hand over the Omni CRA promptly is the campaign consultant for Christian Ulvert!
Why does that matter? Sabina Covo’s campaign manager was Christian Ulvert!
Everyone knows or should know – campaign managers are normally lobbyist puppeteers for candidates.
It’s how they get by with promoting their interest vs. your interest. So much so that Ulvert has a history with almost every politician including now Commissioner Damian Pardo.
My campaign advisor and general counsel Mr. Eduardo Vidal saw Christian Ulvert abandoning candidate Covo a mile away.
How? Ulvert was present during the January election to get Covo elected but he neglected in-person campaigning with her during public town halls. What he did well was make her think she had already won again.
Christian Ulvert is Campaign Manager for almost ALL Democrats, yet his campaign consultant RINO Alex Diaz de la Portilla
The two even traveled to Qatar where being gay is illegal and where Ulvert is a lobbyist. Recently Ulvert and Cava just so happened to be in Japan together. {Another story for another day}.
Christian Ulvert Campaign Manager to Over a Bakers Dozen Miami Dade Democrats
While Christian Ulvert is the campaign manager for Covo, he is also the campaign manager for Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniela Cava Leviene, Miami-Dade District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins, and Baker’s dozen other candidates. {The laundry list of candidates and connections coming soon- take off your aisle blinders – they love swinging on both sides of the political aisle. Christian Ziegler was just the first of the dominos to fall thanks to the 911 call.)
Why would Commissioners Damian Pardo and Sabina Covo keep Ken Russell’s staff and chief of staff Anthony Balzebre?
One of the oddest things I noted was that Covo kept the majority of Ken Russell’s staff. Most importantly she kept Mr. Russell’s chief of staff Anthony Balsibery. Strangely, Mr. Balzebre is now Pardo’s Chief of Staff.
One would think Mr. Balsibery could either be the whistleblower or vindicated as a witness himself because his family is a long-time friend of RINO Carlos Gimenez. {It’s no secret that Miamians know Gimenez is a RINO. He’s been booed off the stage at each Trump Rally, but President Trump keeps calling his name.}
To me, keeping the same Chief of Staff will get District 2 the same results. Even while we were all running for District 2 commission, constituents would ask, “Will you keep the same staff?”
Even Joey Flechas, who I believe was completely swayed or paid Pardo’s way questioned this decision on Twitter:
On another note, as he preps to take office as District 2 commissioner, Damian Pardo has decided to hire Anthony Balzebre to be his chief of staff — the same person who served as Sabina Covo’s chief of staff.
— Joey Flechas (@joeflech) December 2, 2023
I believe I was the only one who said, “Absolutely not until they reapplied and I interviewed them.” And most likely even then I may have kept them long enough for a turnover process.
Why? Because the staff is the lifeblood of delivering services to citizens. Citizens were NOT happy with services, so I would make internal cuts and changes to ensure services were delivered.
Plus – in my expert opinion, Balzebre is overpaid, has too much control, and is over-rated. Plus, I wouldn’t want someone with “political connections” after I’ve committed to running to rid of corruption. Keeping Balzebre is like expecting the fox to guard the henhouse without eating the hens. Next thing we know – there are no eggs and we all wonder why.
Could candidacy documents produced by the City Attorney’s Office be part of the Sabina Covo investigation?
I try to think about this from an objective point of view and the perspective of a commissioner. There are a plethora of documents to read as a candidate. Read Miami Doesn’t Speak English Or Spanish – I’m not even sure it’s Spanglish.
Unfortunately, if Sabina signed all the documents, it’s probably the reason she’s under investigation. Even investigators don’t recommend signing documents unless required.
Was Sabina Covo aware of the legalities against her?
Ok now that Covo was in office, she would have access to City attorney Vicki Mendez (also under investigation) and an experienced and her seasoned, Ken Russell-trained Chief of Staff, Anthony Balzabre who eats at the home of Carlos Gimenez’s family members.
One would think that as smart as Covo appears to be, she would run ideas, concepts, and anything that could become a question by the City attorney’s office and at minimum her Chief of Staff.
Did District 2 Chief of Staff Anthony Balzabre blow the whistle or should he also be investigated for fraud and bribery?
Could Balzabre have failed to inform Covo of something small? Or give her bad advice?
Or did he blow the whistle on her bad behavior?
Any of the following could have occurred with all of the political hands in the District 2 cookie jar.
Why should Sabina Covo’s Investigation be different than other Miami City Officials?
Why is Governor DeSantis involved in the Sabina Covo case, but NOT the Mayor Francis Suarez case?
Another coincidence: Sabina Covo’s investigation was turned over to Governor Ron DeSantis. The woman that Covo used to work for is Nikki Fried, Chief Ron DeSantis’s hater. It’s unclear if Covo is a current friend of Fried.
What we do know is Fried was like her B.F.F. in January 2024 as they strolled through the Christian Family Coalition (CFC) breakfast; that was a couple fo weeks before Fried was protesting to abort babies. She was welcomed at the CFC though.
During the campaign, released this article informing citizens of What I Knew Of All District 2 Miami Commission Politicians.
The District 2 Office Furniture
Okay, to be fair, let’s go back to Covo’s first day at City Hall. Going into an empty office would have been ideal for me. I am not a fan of Ken Russell’s governing style or his yo-yo ignorance of Mayor Francis Suarez. {Remember who stood behind the Presidential Ponzi Postalita for his run for US President? Ken Russell and Eileen Higgins.}
I wonder- which company got the contract for new and old furniture? Did City Manager, Art Noriega’s wife get that contract too?
Who approved the furniture removal? Who got the old furniture? Did we even bother to put it to good use or did we send it to our already full landfill?
Which company did the new furniture come from?
I do not have any answers to these questions because my records requests from as far back as 2020 have gone unresponded to or are closed without the production of records.
Christian Ulvert is a Long Time Friend of Damian Pardo’s Gay 8 Organization Sponsored by Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami
Oddly, Damian Pardo’s Gay 8 organization. At the 10th Annual Bruch on the Bay Champions of Equality brunch Christian Ulvert served as part of the 2016 Host Committee where the Mayor Carlos Gimenez and then Commissioner Daniela Levine Cava served as Honorary Hosts.
Did Christian Ulvert Use Covo as a Placeholder to Promote the LGBTQ Agenda?
According to my general counsel and political analysts, the answer is yes. She was a placeholder while Christian Ulvert could plan to help his long-time friend Damian Pardo.
Notice Pardo’s organization SAVE PAC did not support him so he did not come out as too hard of LGBTQ, even though he has served as the leader. SAVE PAC supported Covo. Christian Ulvert used the mom of three images to further his agenda. He already had Damian! He needed to push Covo to seem far left as her former boss and Nikki Fried is considered far left.
BREAKING NEWS! Our campaign has just received the endorsement of SAVE, South Florida’s largest local LGBTQ+ advocacy group. This endorsement reaffirms our commitment to ensuring that Miami remains a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for all Floridians. From prioritizing public… pic.twitter.com/SZLeGGpcSg
— Sabina Covo (@SabinaCovo) October 10, 2023
Many conservatives, even gays and lesbians view the LGBTQ+ (plus) movement as a pedophile government overreach movement that disenfranchises the family structure and is especially harmful to black minorities
Who has control over the Dream Miami PAC money used for Sabina Covo’s Campaign?
So, can Covo access the money raised during her campaign? She tells sources NO, she has NO access to the monies.
Will Christian Ulvert help her get an attorney? It’s unclear but thus far sources state he has not given her any PAC monies outside of campaign expenditures.
Governor Ron DeSantis Executive Order Re: Sabina Covo Investigation
Full read of the Governor’s Orders Re: Sabina Covo Investigation
WHEREAS, the Honorable KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, State Attorney for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, has advised Governor RON DESANTIS that Sabina Covo is under investigation for allegations of remuneration by candidate for services, support, etc., and bribery; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE has also advised the Governor that a key witness in this case is a close associate of the state attorney’s office; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, to avoid a conflict of interest or any appearance of impropriety, has voluntarily disqualified herself and has requested the executive assignment of another State Attorney regarding the investigation and prosecution of this case and all related matters regarding Sabina Covo; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable HAROLD F. PRYOR, State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, has agreed to accept an executive assignment in this matter; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the State of Florida and of the ends of justice that the Honorable HAROLD F. PRYOR discharge the duties of the Honorable KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, pursuant to section 27.14, Florida Statutes.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RON DESANTIS, Governor of Florida, in obedience to my solemn constitutional duty to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed,” and pursuant to the Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, issue the following Executive Order, effective immediately:
Section 1. The Honorable HAROLD F. PRYOR, State Attorney for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, referred to as the “Assigned State Attorney,” is assigned to discharge the duties of the Honorable KATHERINE FERNANDEZ RUNDLE, State Attorney for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida, regarding the investigation and prosecution of this case and all related matters regarding Sabina Covo.
Section 2. The Assigned State Attorney or one or more Assistant State Attorneys and Investigators, who have been designated by the Assigned State Attorney, shall proceed immediately to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida and are vested with the authority to perform the duties prescribed herein.
Section 3. All residents of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit are requested, and all public officials are directed, to cooperate and render whatever assistance is necessary to the Assigned State Attorney, so that justice may be served.
Section 4. The period of this Executive Assignment shall be for one (1) year, to and including February 1, 2025.
Section 5. The Assigned State Attorney shall notify the Governor on or before January 1, 2025, if additional time is required.
Sabina Covo, The Miami Commissioner That Could Not Say The Pledge of Allegiance
Sadly, in addition to being an ingredient in the Miami corruption cocktail, Covo claims her nervousness got to her when she told Chairwoman Christine King that she could NOT say the Pledge of Allegiance during her first City meeting. Despite being an on-air journalist, Covo says the responsibility of being a leader was the reason she could not say the Pledge of Allegiance.
