Categories: U.S.

Florida commissioners appear to nearly brawl during heated City Hall meeting, livestream shows

close Video

Miami City Commission meeting ends early after commissioners appear to nearly brawl

Commissioners Miguel Gabela and Joe Carollo traded insults during a Thursday meeting before Gabela got out of his seat and rushed over to Carollo, forcing another man to intervene, a livestream of the meeting showed. Credit: City of Miami Gov

Read this article for free! Plus get unlimited access to thousands of articles, videos and more with your free account! Please enter a valid email address. By entering your email, you are agreeing to Fox News Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive. To access the content, check your email and follow the instructions provided.

The first Miami City Commission meeting of the year adjourned early this week after a brawl nearly broke out between two members. 

Commissioner Miguel Gabela got out of his seat and moved toward Commissioner Joe Carollo after the two traded insults with each other, shouting, “You’re a liar!” and “You’re a small, little man!” the meeting’s livestream showed. 

Carollo jumped up from his chair as Gabela approached him, but another man raced over and held Gabela back to stop the situation from escalating. 

“You can’t have decorum with a guy that thinks he’s a gangster,” Carollo said as they both sat back down. “You’re the only gangster in here!” Gabela retorted. 

WILD NEW YORK BRAWL CAUGHT ON VIDEO ALONG HIGHWAY

Miami City Commissioners Joe Carollo, left, and Miguel Gabela appeared to nearly come to blows during a meeting Thursday night.  (City of Miami Gov)

Onlookers in the sparse audience could be seen standing up and filming the situation on their cellphones. 

The meeting was immediately adjourned. 

After the meeting, Carollo told reporters he thought Gabela was acting like a “thug.”

“He wants to act like a Tony Soprano,” he accused, according to WTVJ-TV. “He blew his cork and came at me. I’m a senior citizen. I’m not gonna let a young man come and hit me while I’m sitting in a chair. Of course I’m gonna stand up.”

COURTHOUSE BRAWL CAUGHT ON VIDEO AFTER CONFRONTATION INVOLVING MISSING WOMAN’S FAMILY 

Gabela claimed he never planned to hit Carollo, saying “sometimes you have to stand up to bullies,” the station reported. 

“It was never my intention to do anything,” he said. “I apologize if that’s the way it seemed. but the man starts calling me a gangster. I am not a gangster. I am a law-abiding citizen and I’m a duly elected commissioner like himself, and he needs to respect that, so people can respect him.”

He added according to the Miami Herald, “I’m just saying, ‘look man, if you want to have a fight outside, I’ll go outside with you.” Carollo “doesn’t like losing, and he’s lost control of this commission.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The argument reportedly started after the commissioners voted to extend the contract for an embattled city attorney by only five months, which each man on opposing sides of the issue. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Gabela and Carollo for comment.

Share

Recent Posts

India’s capital introduces stricter anti-pollution measures as toxic smog hides Taj Mahal

close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for November 14 Fox News Flash top headlines…

22 minutes ago

Trump taps RFK Jr. to lead Department of Health and Human Services

President-elect Trump selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and…

51 minutes ago

Senate Dems race to confirm Biden judges ahead of Trump’s presidency

Senate Democrats are rushing to confirm as many of President Biden's judicial picks as possible…

51 minutes ago

‘Malign influence’: Top Biden official faces backlash ahead of address at forum with deep ties to CCP

The Biden administration is facing backlash after it was revealed on social media that a…

52 minutes ago

Donald Trump Jr ally Sergio Gor offered top White House personnel job: report

One of Donald Trump Jr.'s allies and business partners has reportedly been offered a key…

52 minutes ago

Oregon Democrat unseats GOP incumbent in toss-up House race, narrowing Republicans’ majority

Oregon Republican Rep. Lori-Chavez-DeRemer has been ousted by Democratic challenger state Rep. Janelle Bynum in…

3 hours ago