Interim investigative report raises allegations of record tampering, travel spending, and vendor influence by North Miami Beach mayor

Interim report outlines multiple allegations involving city operations

An interim investigative report delivered to North Miami Beach officials on Feb. 16, 2026, raises allegations of misconduct involving Mayor Michael Joseph, including claims of attempted manipulation of official records, interference in procurement decisions, and questions about travel-related spending charged to the city.

The 32-page document describes itself as an interim update and states that additional interviews and review are needed before any final conclusions. The investigation was initiated after the City Commission approved a resolution on Jan. 20, 2026, requesting an internal review into whether elected officials improperly interfered with staff, administrative operations, and vendor selection, or committed ethics or charter violations. The law firm conducting the review was hired Feb. 2, 2026, with a stated deadline of Feb. 27, 2026, to complete its work.

Key allegation: request to alter recordings of city manager interviews

Among the most serious claims, the report recounts an allegation from a city employee that the mayor called and requested alterations to official interview recordings connected to a city manager candidate. The report states the alleged request included disconnecting recording equipment and editing recordings. The employee described the interaction as lengthy and distressing, and reported concerns about retaliation after refusing the request.

The report frames this allegation as raising potential issues under public-records requirements and internal governance rules, while noting the interim nature of the findings.

Vendor influence and procurement concerns described across interviews

Multiple interviews summarized in the report describe concerns about procurement integrity and the boundary between elected leadership and administrative functions. The report includes allegations that the mayor recommended or encouraged particular vendor selections and communicated directly with staff on operational and procurement matters outside normal protocols.

The document also describes concerns about project structuring that could avoid formal competitive processes, including references to keeping costs below thresholds that would trigger request-for-proposal requirements and commission approvals. In addition, the report discusses questions raised about certain lobbyist engagements and documentation practices for services and payments.

• Allegations of direct involvement in vendor recommendations and procurement discussions with staff.
• Concerns about procurement methods that could circumvent competitive bidding triggers.
• Questions raised about lobbyist contracting and documentation of services.

Travel expenses to Japan also questioned

The report states that employees raised concerns about the mayor’s travel-related expenses, including a first-class airfare upgrade that resulted in a charge exceeding $3,000 to the city. The report also describes issues involving timing and documentation tied to expense reconciliation, presenting these as areas requiring continued review.

Mayor disputes report; further investigation recommended

The mayor has disputed the interim report’s accuracy and characterized it as premature, emphasizing that it does not include attachments or evidence in the interim filing.

The interim report recommends continued investigative steps and contemplates that a final submission could be referred to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for potential criminal review, depending on what additional fact-finding produces. City officials have emphasized the document is not the final report.