A resolution calling for Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba to take a leave of absence following an indictment on federal bribery charges failed after the Jackson City Council rejected it on Tuesday.
“It’s important that we just ask the mayor to step aside while we try to navigate a tough situation,” said Ward 3 City Councilman Kenneth Stokes, who proposed the resolution.
He said that the indictment of the mayor—who faces an array of federal charges including conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, racketeering and money laundering—has left a “dark cloud” over the city.
Federal prosecutors allege that Lumumba accepted $50,000 in campaign donation checks from undercover FBI agents posing as real estate developers in exchange for a promise that he would use his power as an elected official to vote in favor of their acquisition of a City contract.
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Ward 6 City Councilman Aaron Banks and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens were arraigned alongside the mayor at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse on Nov. 7, 2024.
Each man has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is running for reelection in 2025 despite his federal indictments. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=780%2C519&ssl=1″ alt=”City of Jackson Mayor at a press conference” class=”wp-image-192943″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Chokwe-A-Lumumba-09062024_cred-Shaunicy-Muhammad-1024×682.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba is running for reelection in 2025 despite his federal indictments. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad
Lumumba has said repeatedly that he will not step down from the position and declared that he will run for re-election this year. “As I indicated in this courtroom today, I am not guilty. So, I will not proceed as a guilty man,” he told reporters on the courthouse steps following his arraignment.
U.S. District Court Judge Daniel Jordan granted a request from the men’s attorneys to delay the trial so that they may
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