MIAMI -- In a twist following the death of the suspended Miami commissioner Art Teele, the Miami Herald announced overnight that it has fired one of its leading columnists, Jim DeFede.

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Jim Defede Speaks Out

Teele shot himself in the head in the lobby of The Miami Herald building Wednesday afternoon. He later died at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

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Slideshow: DeFede Describes Phone Calls With Teele

Images: Former Commissioner Shoots Self At Herald Building

Friends, Family React To Teele's Death

Timeline of Art Teele's Career

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According to Herald publisher Jesus Diaz, Jr., DeFede admitted to recording a phone interview with Teele without Teele's permission or knowledge.

DeFede issued the following statement:

"As Teele was becoming unglued (on the phone), I turned on a tape recorder because I could tell that he was distraught and bouncing off the walls. I made an illegal tape and the company decided to fire me.

"In a tense situation I made a mistake. The Miami Herald executives only learned about it because I came to them and admitted it. I told them I was willing to accept a suspension and apologize both to the newsroom and our readers ... The Herald decided on the death penalty instead."

DeFede said he spoke with Teele several times during the day Wednesday. Teele was calling DeFede from the Miami Herald building's lobby right before he shot himself, but DeFede was not at the Herald at the time of the shooting.

On Thursday, NBC 6's Hank Tester caught up with DeFede at his home in Miami Shores. DeFede said Teele called him to talk about some allegations against him.

"He was very distraught. He was very upset. He mainly called because he wanted to talk to me about the allegations about his homosexual affairs, supposedly, that a prison inmate was making against him," DeFede said. "He was upset by what that was doing -- the effect it was having on his son."

DeFede said he had known Teele for 14 years.

"Whatever you want to say about Art Teele -- there was good and there was bad in Art, but he was probably one of the brightest politicians I'd ever met," DeFede said.

DeFede said he does not have the tape of the conversation he recorded with Teele. He said it is in the possession of the Herald and he does not know if it will be released.

"I miss being at the Herald. I was there for three years," DeFede said. "It was the best job I've ever had. I'm very sad that they no longer want me to work there."