Broward County Commissioner Dale Holness threw his daughter under the proverbial bus following her arrest for felony conspiracy on Wednesday. The United States of America Department Of Justice claims Damara Holness conspired to fraudulently obtain a $300,000 COVID-19 relief loan and then attempted to hide her fraud with the help of co-conspirators. REDBROWARD first exposed Damara Holness’ PPP loan scheme in August 2020.
Damara Holness’ arrest comes at the worst time for Dale Holness. He is currently running for the US Congressional seat previously held by the late Alcee Hastings.
When the news of her arrest finally broke, Dale Holness made laughable claims about his relationship with Damara Holness to the Miami Herald. In a text message to a Miami Herald reporter, Holness said he and Damara “have been estranged for years.”
While it appears her social media was recently scrubbed, Damara Holness posted photographs of her father attending a Broward Black Democratic Caucus event in June 2020. That’s one year ago.
Other witnesses recall seeing the Holness father and daughter at political events over the last year.
Perhaps realizing his “estranged for years” excuse would not hold up to scrutiny, the Holness campaign posted a. new statement on social media:
“I have no details as to how she conducted her business or what she did with her business entities. Damara has had no access to my real estate business, office, or had my permission to use my address or to conduct business on behalf of the Holness family name nor myself. She has had no access to my office.”
As REDBROWARD reported last year, Damara Holness used Dale Holness’ real estate office as the address Holness Consulting Inc. She formed the company in November 2018.
In December 2013, Damara Holness received her State of Florida real estate license. The address used on her real estate license is the same as Dale Holness’ office. The license is valid through September 2021.
Is this the definition of “estranged?”
In April, this reporter spotted Damara Holness at Dale Holness‘ campaign kickoff at his Plantation real estate office. Damara Holness arrived late. She tried to avoid cameras as she slipped into Dale Holness’ office.
Earlier this year, a source close to the Holness family told REDBROWARD that Damara Holness was banned from the office AFTER REDBROWARD revealed the questionable PPP loan. The source claims Holness allies feared law enforcement would use the matter to conduct surveillance of the office.
