“Alex Rodriguez got over 6,000 votes. They were right. They stole an election. There was no other way for them to win,” Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Tim VanderGiesen told jurors during opening statements.

Defense attorneys admitted during opening statements that Artiles aided a ghost candidate. But they also told jurors that the defendant’s actions were lawful.

“It’s not illegal to assist — even financially — ghost candidates. We’re telling you he is a ghost candidate,” defense attorney Frank Quintero Jr., told the jury. “Frank Artiles is guilty of a crime only if he’s found guilty of an election violation. Was the money given to Alex Rodriguez a campaign contribution? If yes, then it’s legal.”