Mayor, Council Members Denounce Watlington’s Claims of Illegal Behavior

On Wednesday, Mayor Vi Lyles joined five Charlotte City Council members and city attorney Anthony Fox at an impromptu press conference to deny and denounce comments made by fellow council member Dr. Victoria Watlington, who called recent actions by the council “unethical, immoral, and frankly, illegal.” 

Though vague, Watlington’s comments in an email to supporters on Tuesday appear to have stemmed from multiple recent closed sessions held by council to discuss a potential settlement offer for CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, who was thought to be preparing to sue the city in connection to threatening texts sent by then-council member Tariq Bokhari last summer.

“I have seen enough,” Watlington’s email reads. “Over the last five and a half years, I have witnessed the brazen disregard for dissenting opinions and the rule of law. Never, however, have I seen such an egregious example as what has occurred in the last week. It is time for a change.” 

The five members in attendance at Wednesday’s press conference — Dante Anderson, Dimple Ajmera, Malcolm Graham, Marjorie Molina and Ed Driggs — denied any wrongdoing in the meetings, during which they reportedly approved offering Jennings a settlement surpassing $100,000. 

Mayor Lyles read a short statement from council members James “Smuggie” Mitchell and LaWana Mayfield supporting those who were at the press conference on Wednesday, stating, “We stand with our colleagues and we share their commitment to work with respect and honesty.” 

It’s unclear at the time of this writing where council members Renee Johnson or Tiawana Brown stand on the issue. 

Ed Driggs joined his Democratic colleagues on Wednesday as the only remaining Republican on council following Bokhari’s departure. He pointed out that Watlington’s allegations were so vague as to be difficult to argue with. 

“It saddens me for Charlotte that a member of council would use scaremongering tactics like this to draw attention to herself,” Driggs said. “I’m not aware of any foundation for council member Watlington’s allegations and it is important to note that they are not supported by any specific assertions of fact in respect of which she could be held responsible. 

“These are wild allegations,” he continued. “It’s not even clear what they mean, but they are offered in such a way that she doesn’t have to defend them.” 

No council member or city staff has publicly confirmed the settlement offer that was reportedly voted on during Monday’s closed session. 

“With regards to the matter that many of you have read about in the media and in the papers, that is a matter that was conducted in closed session,” city attorney Fox said during the press conference. “Our council has been instructed by me and consistent with North Carolina law not to speak about that matter, and they cannot.” 

Malcolm Graham voiced his frustration with media leaks on Wednesday, stating that he has called on the city manager’s officer to consider an investigation into how information from closed sessions is getting leaked. 

He claimed that much of the reporting based on these leaks includes only “half-truths” that are then taken as fact because council members cannot comment on them publicly. 

“We have to retain and build trust internally in the building as well as externally in the building,” Graham said. “It also matters how we process our work. It also matters when we disclose, what we disclose, and to the extent we can disclose.”

Council member Marjorie Molina emphasized, as did Fox, that if Watlington has substantial allegations of wrongdoing against any council member or council as a whole she should take them to the city attorney’s office for a thorough investigation. 

“If there is something that she feels that would be in order for investigation, she has a right to come forward and make that known so that, if it’s warranted, an investigation can take place, and she should,” said Molina. 

“But I implore the community members … in our city to know that the ones of us, all of us that stand here, we hold this honor of representing the city in very high regard. It is an absolute honor to sit here and be elected by the people that call Charlotte home and have the honor to make those decisions. I know that we do that with integrity and with the highest honor for what we are doing and administering decisions for the fiduciary responsibility and anything else thereof.” 

Old texts still causing issues

Weeks after District 6 rep Tariq Bokhari stepped down from Charlotte City Council to join the Trump administration, his belligerent behavior before doing so continues to reverberate through city government. 

As first reported by WFAE’s Steve Harrison, Bokhari sent Jennings text messages in July 2024 threatening to “cripple his legacy” if Jennings didn’t get onboard with supplying all CMPD officers with outer-carrier protective vests as are already worn by SWAT members and some vice units.

Jennings had opposed Bokhari’s demands to purchase the vests in the wake of a deadly shootout that killed four law enforcement officers, one of them with CMPD, in east Charlotte in April 2024, arguing that they didn’t offer much added protection and that their military-like appearance would conflict with the community policing policies Jennings has promoted and pushed for in his department.  

“As your friend, I want you to know what happens next,” read one text from Bokhari. “I’ll be demanding your resignation starting Monday. I’ll be hammering you from the press, the private sector, the foundations, the general assembly, congress and several high-profile national organizations.”

He went on to say he would work to have Jennings fired if the chief did not compromise, and even if he was unsuccessful, “I will not stop and it will cripple your legacy you’ve worked so hard for.”

Though City Manager Marcus Jones publicly disapproved of Bokhari’s behavior following WFAE’s original reporting on the text messages, neither the mayor nor Bokhari’s colleagues on council followed suit. 

This seemingly apathetic response reportedly bothered Jennings, who has since threatened to sue the city based on the grounds that his reputation has been tarnished and he could face difficulties finding future employment after his tenure with the department. 

At Wednesday’s press conference, Mayor Lyles expressed regret for not supporting Jennings earlier. 

“I believe Chief Jennings to be the best police chief in this country,” Lyles said. “He has dedicated more than 30 years of his life to serving this community, and he’s led with dignity, honesty and integrity.

“The chief was publicly attacked by a former council member who stated his intent was to damage his reputation and end his career,” she continued. “I owe the chief an apology for not publicly supporting him then.”

Council will gather again on May 12 for a business meeting and a public forum for the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget.