Pattern of Questionable Conduct by City Attorney
Concerns about Assistant City Attorney Farrell's conduct did not begin with the recent email scandal. According to public records, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Farrell led an open forum on Administrative Policy 3-4 attended by approximately 15 city employees. During the meeting, she allegedly advised staff not to document incidents, such as sewage spills, in writing, cautioning that written communications would become public records. Instead, she encouraged them to "just pick up the phone" to avoid creating a paper trail, a directive that raised eyebrows among employees.This incident wasn’t isolated. On March 20, 2025, during a special meeting, Farrell was recorded justifying the hiring of outside counsel by claiming she had requested an extension on a subpoena involving public records. The case, unrelated to city business, involved the defense of Vickie Conklin, a 2024 election candidate widely believed to be facing politically motivated charges. Farrell stated she had asked Conklin's attorney for an extension, prompting the city to hire special legal counsel. However, newly released court documents contradict her statement, indicating no such request was ever made, suggesting the city retained outside counsel based on a false premise.
Further fueling public scrutiny, during the same meeting, Farrell inadvertently left a sticky note containing her private legal notes on Councilwoman Moscoso’s documents. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral, garnering over two million views on social media.
A Web of Deceit: “Maverick Brownfield” and the Setup
On May 27, 2025, during a live city council meeting, Councilwoman Moscoso and the public learned of a covert communication thread between Farrell and a mysterious email account operating under the name “Maverick Brownfield / Anthony Altamonte.” The alias had been used to submit public records requests aimed exclusively at Moscoso, an unusually targeted approach not used with any other city officials.The scandal deepened when "Maverick" made a critical mistake: in a reply to Moscoso, the alias accidentally copied and pasted a full exchange and an unusual attachment. The message appeared to show Farrell coaching the alias on what records to request. The accidental disclosure sent shockwaves through City Hall and prompted immediate demands for Farrell’s resignation.
Ethics Violations and Legal Repercussions
The formal complaint filed with The Florida Bar accuses Farrell of violating multiple Rules of Professional Conduct, including:- Conflict of Interest (Rule 4-1.7)
- Failure to Communicate (Rule 4-1.4)
- Dishonesty and Misrepresentation (Rule 4-8.4(c))
- Conduct Prejudicial to Justice (Rule 4-8.4(d))
- Misrepresentation of Organizational Duties (Rule 4-1.13)
Resignation and Fallout
Eight days after the scandal broke, Farrell submitted her resignation. Sources indicate the decision was not entirely voluntary. Her abrupt departure raises broader concerns about whether others within city leadership were aware of or possibly complicit in the misconduct. A city employee confirmed the resignation but declined to comment further.What's Next?
The Florida Bar is now being urged to open a formal investigation, with the complaint calling for the immediate preservation of all records, including emails with the alias account, internal communications regarding Moscoso, and any documentation related to the records requests.Residents are demanding sweeping transparency reforms and external audits of the city attorney’s office. As the investigation unfolds, one thing is certain: the community is watching and demanding answers.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates as more details emerge.