The Stockbridge City Council Holds Investigative Hearing Over Allegations Against Mayor Jayden Williams, But Reschedules The Meeting To Sept. 12 Over Recusal Issue

The Stockbridge City Council is currently locked in what may turn into a protracted legal battle against its 23 year old Mayor, Jayden Williams. At issue are allegations the Council has leveled against the mayor, including alleged misspending of taxpayer funds in addition to what the Council has maintained was an unethical relationship the mayor allegedly maintained with an 18 year old local high school senior.

The action that the council is undertaking could lead to the removal of the mayor from office, if successful. The mayor has maintained his innocence.

The meeting, which was streamed on the city’s website, was slated to start at 10 A.M. but shortly thereafter, former Fulton County Chief Magistrate Judge Gino Brogdon Sr., announced the meeting would not happen today due to the ongoing legal challenge over the status of Councilmember Lakeisha Gantt as a member of the hearing body.

Brogdon Sr., was appointed to oversee the hearing, rule on evidence, and maintain order. He will not participate in the council’s private discussions or vote on the mayor’s future.

An attorney for the mayor has insisted that Councilwoman Gantt should recuse herself from both participating in the process of hearing the evidence and ultimately deciding the allegations against Williams. The attorney has referenced text messages, emails, and Facebook comments in which he says Gantt discussed the accusations and urged Williams’ grandmother, a former Henry County Commissioner, to consider asking the mayor to resign.

Gantt was not initially seated during the beginning of Brogdon’s words but later took her seat on the council dais.

Judge Brodgon scheduled a virtual hearing on the motion to recuse Councilmember Gantt on Monday, August 31 at 5 P.M.. He indicated he will decide that day if Gantt will be recused or not.

After that hearing, the judge said the actual investigative hearing–which was set to take place today– will instead take place on Saturday, September 12th at 9 A.M.

The Background: Why Is The City Council Holding An Investigative Hearing?

The City Council voted 4-1 to hold the public hearing to review evidence concerning two major sets of allegations:

Financial Misspent Funds: The investigation began in mid-July after city staff flagged unusual transactions. The probe is auditing roughly $4,000 in taxpayer money, checking if city-issued purchasing and fuel cards were used for personal expenses without authorization.

Sexual Misconduct: The probe expanded to investigate allegations regarding a police report detailing inappropriate messaging and alleged sexual contact between Williams and an 18-year-old male 11th-grade high school student.

Current Fallout and Next Steps

In response to the initial findings, the City Council previously stripped Williams of his administrative duties, restricted his use of city vehicles, and deactivated his city purchasing cards.

However, a judge allowed the mayor back into his office this past week. But restrictions on his use of city-issued vehicles, purchasing cards, and fuel cards remain in place during the ongoing investigation.

State lawmakers forming the Stockbridge Legislative Delegation have additionally requested that Governor Brian Kemp order an independent investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) to prevent local bias.

Mayor Williams has strongly denied all wrongdoing, and his legal team unsuccessfully sought to legally block the hearing. However, the City Council could potentially use its findings to invoke a removal clause in the City Charter to vote on removing Williams from office at the September 12th hearing date.