JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI- Council rejects resolution urging mayor to take leave amid bribery scandal

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A resolution urging Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba to take a leave of absence amid the city’s ongoing bribery scandal failed on a narrow vote.

On Tuesday, the council voted 3-2-1 on the resolution calling on the mayor to step aside until matters related to the scandal are resolved.

Councilmen Kenneth Stokes, Ashby Foote, and Vernon Hartley voted in favor of the non-binding proposal. Opposed were Councilmembers Tina Clay and Brian Grizzell. Council President Virgi Lindsay abstained, while Ward Six Councilman Aaron Banks had left the meeting.

Because the measure did not receive a majority vote of members present, it died.

Lindsay, who is not seeking re-election, told members she abstained because she didn’t believe the item should be on the agenda.

“It is a matter for the court, and I have faith in the court, and a person is innocent until proven guilty,” she said.

Stokes, who represents Ward Three, urged Lumumba to step aside, saying the bribery scandal has put a dark cloud over the city.

“We’re not accusing anybody of anything. We’re not trying to sit as judge or jury, or lawyers or anything else. What we’re saying is the city of Jackson must survive,” he said. “Yes, the people at the [State Capitol] have not done any and all things they could do to help Jackson, but with this dark cloud on this city, they’re going to do even less.”

Hartley echoed Stokes’ comments.

“I would say to anyone caught up in anything that’s going to distract us from our jobs, ‘Search your honor, your integrity, your commitment, your values, and decide what’s in the best interest of this city,” he said.

In October, Lumumba, Banks, and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens were indicted in connection with a bribery scheme to bring a convention center hotel to the city of Jackson.

Lumumba is facing five counts for his alleged role, which included taking $50,000 in campaign contributions to direct a city employee to change the deadline for firms to respond to a request for qualifications to oversee the construction of a multimillion-dollar project next to the Jackson Convention Complex.

The funds were given to the mayor in the form of five $10,000 checks, which were deposited into his campaign account, according to court records. Portions of those amounts were later withdrawn using checks payable to the mayor.

The mayor pleaded not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court in November. Since then, he has been dogged by questions about his alleged involvement.

Chief of Staff Safiya Omari came to her boss’ defense, telling council members about all the good that’s been done in Jackson since Lumumba took office

Lumumba was first elected in 2017. He was re-elected to a second term in 2021.

“This city is continuing to do business as usual, and those people who are making innuendos and saying we are incapable of moving forward under the dark cloud, are on TV every Sunday bringing attention to everything they can that’s negative and never talking about what’s positive,” she said.

“The hypocrisy of sitting there saying there’s a dark cloud that keeps us from moving forward... even Stevie Wonder can see they’re playing politics.”

Omari was referring to Stokes’ frequent Sunday afternoon press conferences.

Stokes, in turn, questioned the chief of staff’s claims the city is moving forward and called out Omari about her residency.

“The lights on Bailey Avenue have been out for years - not for weeks, not for months, for years,” he said. “We’re talking about trees on the street that haven’t been picked up for months... and she’s talking about how everything is good, and she [doesn’t] live in Jackson. Uh oh.”

Clay, the newest member of the council, agreed there was a cloud over the city, but said the council should come together.

Said Clay, “We as a city need to put aside all the things we think personally. With all the disparities we have on this council, all seven of us need to come together and think about what’s good for the city.”

Lumumba was silent for most of the discussion, only pointing out following the vote that the resolution failed to pass.