JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Jackson residents are still processing the sweeping indictments against Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks.
The three elected leaders pled not guilty to the charges against them, which include bribery .
The 32-page indictment outlined misconduct amongst the officials. According to the court document, pictures of Lumumba and Owens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, allegedly exchanging hefty amounts of cash, unsuspecting of the fact that FBI operatives were present.
Prosecutors said the trip occurred before the FBI raids in Jackson that happened in May 2024.
Second person charged in Jackson bribery scandal
“With our elected officials, you know, we have to hold ourselves individually to a higher standard to make sure that we’re doing the right thing. Because when you’re responsible for being a public servant, if you’re doing things that you’re not properly serving your people, we get to that. The issue of mistrust,” said State Rep. Fabian Nelson (D-District 66).