Charlotte City Council member alleges corruption amid reported CMPD settlement
The email, sent from her campaign account, begins with the words 'Power Corrupts' and says she's 'extremely concerned with the level of unethical, immoral, and frankly, illegal activities occurring within City government.' The email also contains a 'contribute to the cause' link that typically appears on top of Watlington's campaign messages and directs to an ActBlue donation page for her council campaign.
'I have seen enough. 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,' the email continues. 'It is time for a change.'
The email did not specify what Watlington was referring to.
But it was sent the same day WSOC and WFAE reported the City Council agreed in closed session to a settlement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings to prevent a potential lawsuit over now former-Council member Tariq Bokhari's push to get new bulletproof vests for police officers.
WSOC, The Charlotte Observer's news partner, reported council members voted during a closed session April 28 on a potential settlement but failed to meet the threshold for approval with multiple members absent from the meeting. During another closed session Monday, the previous vote was deemed to meet the six-member threshold under council rules because of a council member who left the meeting without being formally excused, according to WSOC.
The potential lawsuit reportedly stemmed from friction between Bokhari and Jennings over outer-carrier vests for police, including heated text messages previously reported by WFAE.
Charlotte City Councilman Malcolm Graham said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Watlington's statement was 'not based in reality, political rhetoric at best.'
In a statement posted to social media Tuesday night, The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police said Charlotteans 'should be outraged' over the reported settlement. The organization supported Bokhari in his push to get outer carrier vests for officers.
'While the city is negotiating paying out over hurt feelings, many Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officers who are physically suffering feel the city pays no attention to them,' the FOP's statement said.
Charlotte NAACP President Corine Mack confirmed to the Observer she filed an ethics complaint against Bokhari in January over the issue, claiming he and the FOP 'began a crusade against' Jennings. WSOC reported two top Jennings aides advised her on her complaint, which Mack said was dismissed by interim City Attorney Anthony Fox for insufficient evidence.
Multiple City Council members declined to speak with an Observer reporter about a settlement deal. Bokhari, who now works for the Federal Transit Administration, also declined to comment.
Watlington did not immediately respond to a call from an Observer reporter Tuesday night about her email.
First elected in 2019 to represent District 3, Watlington is now an at-large council member and unsuccessfully sought mayor pro tem in 2023. She leads the city's Housing, Safety and Community Committee and was the top vote-getter among council candidates in the last municipal election.
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