JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The mayor of Mississippi’s capital city, the top prosecutor in the state’s largest county and a Jackson City Council member have been indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges in a case that has already forced the resignation of another city council member, according to federal court records unsealed Thursday.
The charges against Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and council member Aaron B. Banks were brought after two people working for the FBI posed as real estate developers who wanted to build a hotel near the convention center in downtown Jackson and provided payments to officials, including $50,000 for the mayor’s reelection campaign, according to court documents.
Lumumba, Jody Owens and Banks each pleaded not guilty Thursday during an appearance before a magistrate judge, with supporters of the mayor filling the small courtroom. The three men will remain free while awaiting trial.
Outside the courthouse, Lumumba said he is grateful to people who have reached out to him locally, nationally and internationally.
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“I am not guilty, and so I will not proceed as a guilty man,” Lumumba said. “I will continue to handle the business of the City of Jackson while my attorneys continue to handle the business of these court proceedings.”
The mayor released a video statement Wednesday saying the indictment is a “political prosecution” to hurt his 2025 campaign for reelection. He also said: “I have never accepted a bribe of any type.”
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Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens called the federal charges “an assassination attempt on my character” after his indictment on Nov. 7, 2024. Photo by Imani Khayyam ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?fit=300%2C200&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?fit=780%2C519&ssl=1″ src=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=780%2C519&ssl=1″ alt=”Jody Owens outside Federal courthouse.” class=”wp-image-49275″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_9520-1024×682.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”>Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens called the federal charges “an assassination attempt on my character” after his indictment on
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