Arthur Teele
Encyclopedia
Arthur "Art" Teele was an American
lawyer and politician who belonged to the Republican Party
. Born into a wealthy black family in Florida, Teele received an excellent education and became a highly respected officer in the US Army and went on to a very successful career in private practice and politics. A controversial tabloid raised scandalous charges against him during his fight to clear his name from a conviction, and he committed suicide. Posthumously, his case was appealed and his conviction was overturned exonerating him of all charges.
Art Teele married Celestra Patton Teele, of whom he had one son Arthur Patton Teele. (Trey)
Teele, later married Stephanie K. Teele of whom he was married upon his death.
from July 1975 to June 1977. Teele earned his law degree from Florida State University College of Law
.
which was the most prominent civil rights case in America during the 1970s. Teele met with the attorneys for the Wilmington Ten as well as attorneys and administrative staff of North Carolina Attorney General Rufus Edmisten. In 1980, the federal courts ordered a new trial for the Wilmington Ten, and Attorney General Edmisten dropped all charges after hearing appeals from Teele and others permitting the Wilmington Ten to go free.
Returning to the private practice of law in his home state of Florida, Teele became the attorney for Bill France, the founder of NASCAR
, before entering politics in Miami. In Europe, Teele consulted with Interpol on investigations into organized crime and international homicide cases.
appointed Teele to the post of Assistant Secretary of Transportation. From 1981–83, Teele was the head of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration
(UMTA), a position officially known as Administrator of UMTA (now FTA
).
In the 1990s, Teele was elected Miami-Dade County
Commissioner in Miami, Florida
. Following a controversial investigation and trial, Teele was removed from office by Governor Jeb Bush
on March 2, 2005. Although Teele was convicted of corruption by threat against a public servant, the verdict was overturned on appeal after his death by suicide.
building and shot himself fatally in the head.
, mail fraud and wire fraud for allegedly helping a minority company win more than $20 million worth of electrical contracts at Miami International Airport
for work that was actually undertaken by a larger non-minority company. Teele faced a possible 20 years in prison
if convicted of the federal charges, but an examination of his personal financial records after his death revealed that Teele was not a rich man and was actually in debt for half a million dollars.
published a controversial and sensationalist cover story on Teele which was based on the report of the corruption probe and detailed alleged dealings with illegal drugs and a transvestite prostitute with a criminal record. Shortly before he shot himself, Teele called Miami Herald columnist Jim DeFede, who taped their conversation. This taping led to the dismissal of DeFede. According to the tape, Teele professed his love for his wife, Stephanie, in a rambling conversation that revealed a spike in his personal anxiety.
in the 1996 presidential primaries, and this political association was raised as an issue in the African-American community when Teele ran for mayor
of Miami-Dade County
later that year. Teele was one of the top two candidates to emerge from the general election
, but he was narrowly defeated in a runoff
by Alex Penelas
.
. The court allowed the appeal by a deceased individual on the basis that Teele's conviction precluded his wife from making a valid claim for death benefits under the City of Miami's pension plan and other merits of his case.
Their documentary re-examined the travesty in the context of political pressures from the Florida State Attorney's Office during Jeb Bush's administration that raised serious concerns about the motives for the official persecution of Art Teele.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician who belonged to the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Born into a wealthy black family in Florida, Teele received an excellent education and became a highly respected officer in the US Army and went on to a very successful career in private practice and politics. A controversial tabloid raised scandalous charges against him during his fight to clear his name from a conviction, and he committed suicide. Posthumously, his case was appealed and his conviction was overturned exonerating him of all charges.
Art Teele married Celestra Patton Teele, of whom he had one son Arthur Patton Teele. (Trey)
Teele, later married Stephanie K. Teele of whom he was married upon his death.
Legal and military career
Teele was a brilliant law student who went into the military after his graduation. Teele served the US Army as a Judge Advocate General on the personal staff of General Henry Emerson, Commander of the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort BraggFort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
from July 1975 to June 1977. Teele earned his law degree from Florida State University College of Law
Florida State University College of Law
Florida State University College of Law is the law school of Florida State University in Tallahassee. The law school's highly accomplished and accessible law faculty delivers a program that has an interdisciplinary orientation designed to produce well-rounded and effective lawyers.The law school...
.
In private practice: civil rights, NASCAR, and the France family
After his honorable discharge from the US Army, Teele provided pro bono services to the defendants in the Wilmington TenWilmington Ten
The Wilmington Ten were a group of civil rights activists who spent nearly a decade in jail after being convicted of arson and conspiracy in 1971. The case became an international cause celebre amidst widespread beliefs that the individuals in the case were only guilty of holding dissenting...
which was the most prominent civil rights case in America during the 1970s. Teele met with the attorneys for the Wilmington Ten as well as attorneys and administrative staff of North Carolina Attorney General Rufus Edmisten. In 1980, the federal courts ordered a new trial for the Wilmington Ten, and Attorney General Edmisten dropped all charges after hearing appeals from Teele and others permitting the Wilmington Ten to go free.
Returning to the private practice of law in his home state of Florida, Teele became the attorney for Bill France, the founder of NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, before entering politics in Miami. In Europe, Teele consulted with Interpol on investigations into organized crime and international homicide cases.
Government career
Shortly after his election in 1980, President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
appointed Teele to the post of Assistant Secretary of Transportation. From 1981–83, Teele was the head of the Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
(UMTA), a position officially known as Administrator of UMTA (now FTA
Federal Transit Administration
The Federal Transit Administration is an agency within the United States Department of Transportation that provides financial and technical assistance to local public transit systems. The FTA is one of ten modal administrations within the DOT...
).
In the 1990s, Teele was elected Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
Commissioner in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Following a controversial investigation and trial, Teele was removed from office by Governor Jeb Bush
Jeb Bush
John Ellis "Jeb" Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is a prominent member of the Bush family: the second son of former President George H. W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush; the younger brother of former President George W...
on March 2, 2005. Although Teele was convicted of corruption by threat against a public servant, the verdict was overturned on appeal after his death by suicide.
Suicide
On July 27, 2005, Teele walked into the The Miami HeraldThe Miami Herald
The Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
building and shot himself fatally in the head.
Vendetta against Teele
At the time of his death, Teele was a popular politician with a loyal following in Miami-Dade. Following his shocking death many Miamians believed him to be the victim of a political vendetta. Teele's conviction stemmed from an incident with a Miami-Dade County detective who had been conducting surveillance as part of a corruption probe. That probe had resulted in Teele being charged with ten felony counts of unlawful compensation with trial set for October 2005. Teele was also under federal indictment for money launderingMoney laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, mail fraud and wire fraud for allegedly helping a minority company win more than $20 million worth of electrical contracts at Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
for work that was actually undertaken by a larger non-minority company. Teele faced a possible 20 years in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
if convicted of the federal charges, but an examination of his personal financial records after his death revealed that Teele was not a rich man and was actually in debt for half a million dollars.
A searing tabloid scandal
On the day of his suicide, the Miami New TimesMiami New Times
The Miami New Times is a free weekly newspaper published in Miami and distributed every Thursday. It primarily serves the Miami area and is headquartered near Miami's Design District.-Overview:...
published a controversial and sensationalist cover story on Teele which was based on the report of the corruption probe and detailed alleged dealings with illegal drugs and a transvestite prostitute with a criminal record. Shortly before he shot himself, Teele called Miami Herald columnist Jim DeFede, who taped their conversation. This taping led to the dismissal of DeFede. According to the tape, Teele professed his love for his wife, Stephanie, in a rambling conversation that revealed a spike in his personal anxiety.
A prominent Republican campaigner
Teele campaigned for Bob DoleBob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
in the 1996 presidential primaries, and this political association was raised as an issue in the African-American community when Teele ran for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
later that year. Teele was one of the top two candidates to emerge from the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
, but he was narrowly defeated in a runoff
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
by Alex Penelas
Alex Penelas
Alexander "Alex" Penelas is the former mayor of Miami-Dade County, Florida.-Schooling and personal life:Penelas, an American of Cuban descent, attended college at St. Thomas University...
.
Conviction overturned and Teele exonerated
On April 18, 2007, almost two years after he committed suicide, Teele's conviction for corruption by threat against a public servant was overturned by the Florida Third District Court of AppealFlorida Third District Court of Appeal
The Florida Third District Court of Appeal is headquartered in Miami, Florida. Its ten judges have jurisdiction over cases arising from Miami-Dade Monroe Counties.-History:...
. The court allowed the appeal by a deceased individual on the basis that Teele's conviction precluded his wife from making a valid claim for death benefits under the City of Miami's pension plan and other merits of his case.
Miami Noir
A narrowly focused documentary about Teele's final days that concentrated on the sensational aspects of his tragic suicide was produced by two University of Miami film students, Josh Miller and Sam Rega. Miller and Rega's student documentary, Miami Noir, was screened at the 2008 Miami International Film Festival.Their documentary re-examined the travesty in the context of political pressures from the Florida State Attorney's Office during Jeb Bush's administration that raised serious concerns about the motives for the official persecution of Art Teele.
External links
- Official Miami Noir: The Arthur E. Teele Story
- Francisco Alvarado, Tales of Teele: Sleaze Stories, Miami New Times, July 28, 2005
- MP3 of Miami Herald radio reports from inside the building immediately after Teele shot himself
- Miami television station Local 10 online news story on the event
- West Palm Beach Channel 25 online news story