The city of Charlotte has hired an outside attorney to investigate claims of unethical conduct made this spring by City Council member Victoria Watlington, who criticized the council’s decision to pay Police Chief Johnny Jennings a $305,000 settlement.
Council members voted in a closed session earlier this month to hire Patrick Flanagan of the law firm Cranfill Sumner to interview council members about Watlington’s criticisms. He’ll be paid $300 an hour.
The controversy began in 2024, when former City Council member Tariq Bokhari and Jennings feuded over whether officers should be allowed to wear new protective vests. The dispute escalated, with Bokhari texting Jennings that he would try to get him fired and would work to cripple his legacy…