State Sen. Emanuel Jones and other members of Stockbridge's legislative delegation are calling on Republican Gov. Brian Kemp to seek a Georgia Bureau of Investigation probe into allegations against Mayor Jayden Williams.
The lawmakers also want the Stockbridge City Council to halt removal proceedings against Williams while the allegations are investigated, arguing an independent state investigation would help establish the facts and maintain public confidence in city government.
In an Aug. 13 letter to Kemp, the delegation cited allegations involving unauthorized use of city-issued purchasing cards, gasoline purchases using municipal funds and conduct involving minors that lawmakers said could potentially be criminal. The allegations have not been established as fact.
The delegation said the City Council was poised to invoke a removal provision in the city charter and warned that proceeding amid heightened tensions could deepen distrust in city government and potentially interfere with prosecution if criminal conduct is found.
The letter was signed by Jones, Sen. Gail Davenport and state Reps. El-Mahdi Holly, Demetrius Douglas and Regina Lewis-Ward. The lawmakers asked Kemp to request an independent GBI investigation into the allegations.
Williams told Atlanta News First that he had no comment on the request.
: