A Miami Beach political candidate has refused to step out of the race amid accusations of inappropriate behavior. The Democratic Party in the city has pulled its support for Rafael Velasquez, who denies the accusations. An alleged victim spoke out. NBC 6’s Andrea Cruz reports.
A Miami Beach commission candidate is accused of sexual harassment from two women, including a sitting commissioner.
Rafael Velasquez is facing allegations of making unwanted advances and even groping the women, including one from Commissioner Kristen Rosen-Gonzalez.
Velasquez strongly denies the claims and says it's just a political move against him, even though Rosen-Gonzalez had endorsed his campaign.
“It’s too much of a coincidence you know a week away from Election Day this happening,” Velasquez told NBC 6.
Rosen-Gonzalez, who says Velasquez made a unwanted sexual advance a few weeks ago in a car after the two had dinner to discuss the race.
Monday, another woman came forward accusing Velasquez of sexual misconduct. A local publicist, Francis Alban, claims Velasquez grabbed her from behind and "groped" her at an event four months ago while taking a photo.
Alban shared text messages between the two after the alleged incident with Velasquez telling her that she looked "sexy" and "...felt good too" with an emoji.
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“It felt good seeing her. I mean I was very, very happy we hadn't seen each other in a long time,” he said when asked by a reporter what he was trying to say in those texts.
The Miami-Dade Democratic Party has pulled its endorsement of Velasquez.
