The Broward Office of the Inspector General released a report today that accuses Broward County Tax Collector Abiodun 鈥淎bbey鈥� Ajayi of violating state and local laws during her campaign.
As a candidate, Ajayi was the Broward County Records, Taxes and Treasury Operations Manager. According to the report, she engaged in misconduct and violated state and local laws.
Ajayi appeared on two video podcasts from her county office. The first, an episode of 鈥淭he Adams Brothers Podcast鈥� took place on March 26, 2024 at 6 p.m.-- after work hours. Near the end of the video Ajayi directs listeners to donate to her campaign. Soliciting donations within a government-owned property is a violation of state law.
The other, an episode of the podcast 鈥淭ime Out 360鈥� was recorded Friday March 29, 2024 at 10 a.m.鈥� during work hours. The OIG report reviewed Ajayi鈥檚 timecard and noted that she did not request time off, meaning she was on the clock during that podcast appearance. While she did not solicit donations during this appearance, campaigning for public office during work hours is also a violation of state law. Both infractions would be classified as first-degree misdemeanors.
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In addition, Ajayi also frequently used her county email for campaign related reasons. In total, the report tallies 44 instances where she used her county email address to forward scripts, candidate questionnaires, and her appearances on both the Adams Brothers and Time Out 360 podcasts. These instances violate county law that forbids the use of county resources for campaigning.
In March of 2023, when Ajayi announced her candidacy, Thomas Kennedy, the director of Broward鈥檚 Records, Taxes and Treasury division, sent Ajayi a memo entitled. 鈥淩E: Rules and Regulations for County Employees Seeking Elected Office.鈥� Attached were the relevant rules and regulations from the Broward County Human Resources Handbook and the County Code that deal with employees running for public office鈥� including the rules and regulations Ajayi is accused of violating.
The report referred to Ajayi鈥檚 actions as 鈥渕isconduct鈥� while adding, 鈥渨e did not determine that she corruptly misused her official position.鈥�
The OIG is now referring the matter to the Broward County State Attorney鈥檚 Office and the Florida Elections Commission.
SA国际传谋 reached out to Ajayi鈥檚 office, but as of publishing had not received comment.
