Kissimmee Mayor's Attorney Seeks Dismissal of Impeachment Counts, Stay of Proceedings

An attorney representing Kissimmee Mayor Jackie Espinosa has filed a series of motions in her ongoing impeachment case. These filings seek to dismiss three specific counts, request a temporary halt to the impeachment proceedings, and challenge the eligibility of the special prosecutor involved, according to court filings and as reported by wesh.com.

The motions represent a significant procedural challenge to the legal basis and fairness of the impeachment process against Mayor Espinosa. Such actions typically aim to narrow the scope of the case, pause proceedings for further review, or question the impartiality of those prosecuting the matter.

The impeachment proceedings against Mayor Espinosa stem from an ethics investigation concerning the city's "Business Boost 2.0" grant program. This program was established to provide COVID-19 relief funds to small businesses impacted by the pandemic, city records show.

Special Prosecutor Mayanne Downs, appointed in May to investigate ethics complaints, issued a 13-page report on July 24, 2026. Downs concluded there was "clear probable cause" to pursue impeachment on three specific counts, primarily alleging a prohibited conflict of interest, failure to disclose financial interests, and disregard for an advisory opinion issued by the City Attorney in December 2025, which had warned of potential ethics concerns related to receiving grant money under these circumstances. Downs characterized public office as a "trust, not a trough," emphasizing that the Business Boost 2.0 program was intended for pandemic relief for small businesses, not for the enrichment of controlling officials (per Osceola News Gazette, Positively Osceola).

Mayor Espinosa reportedly participated in City Commission actions to fund and expand the Business Boost 2.0 program without publicly disclosing personal financial interests in businesses that later received grants. According to city data, three businesses connected to Mayor Espinosa and her family received $50,000 in grant funds from the program. This amount represented approximately 19.6% of the first group of grant awards or roughly 20% of the initial $375,000 allocated for the program.

The special prosecutor's report also recommended that the City of Kissimmee consider referring the matter to various law enforcement and state ethics authorities, including the Attorney General, Florida Commission on Ethics, and the Ninth Judicial Circuit (per Osceola News Gazette, YouTube (WESH 2 News), YouTube (ClickOrlando.com)). Mayor Espinosa's attorney has consistently challenged the special prosecutor's findings, disputing their factual and legal conclusions and arguing that the recommendation is not a final determination, according to previous reports.