Photo from City of Miami
Audio By Carbonatix
Don’t be suspicious if you catch Miami Mayor Francis Suarez at the local locksmith; he’s just copying keys to the city to pass out like Halloween candy.
In his final months as mayor, Suarez has been christening crypto statues, posting videos of his workouts, and handing out honorary keys to the city to people like President Donald Trump, Lionel Messi, and Argentine President Javier Milei. Adding to the list on Thursday, Suarez revealed he had gifted the latest key to Trump ally and federal prosecutor Jason Reding Quiñones on October 23.
Reding Quiñones made headlines earlier this week when he issued 30 subpoenas targeting Trump critics and those who previously investigated him, according to reporting from the Independent. He called a unit-wide meeting on Monday after two prosecutors resigned rather than investigate the grand “conspiracy,” according to MSNBC.
“Everyone is on pins and needles,” a source told MSNBC, referring to prosecutors fearful of working on a case Trump has said should lead to arrests of people like former President Barack Obama and former CIA Director John Brennan.
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Fast-forward three days, and Trump’s South Florida bestie, Suarez, posts on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, about giving Reding Quiñones a key to the city, one of Miami’s highest honors.
“It’s always empowering to our citizens to see a local person make it to be the top law-enforcement person in our community. Thank you for serving this community!” Suarez wrote on X.
A Miami native and son of a Cuban political refugee, Reding Quiñones has worked as a national security official, prosecutor, military officer, and trial judge before serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer for the Southern District of Florida, a nine-county district running from Indian River County in the north to Monroe County in the south.
The U.S. Department of Justice also touted Quiñones’ receipt of the key to the Magic City in a Thursday press release.
“This is an incredible honor from our incredible city, and I’m proud to serve the people who make Miami safe,” Reding Quiñones said in the announcement. “The safety of our community is a shared responsibility between state, local, and federal partners. Mayor Suarez’s leadership and unwavering commitment to public safety have made our city stronger, and I’m deeply grateful to accept this recognition on behalf of all who dedicate their lives to serving our community.”
Suarez also praised Quiñones in the news release for his “long record of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to safeguarding Miami’s residents.”
