Inglewood mayor, embroiled in groping allegations, accuses rivals of smear campaign
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Set us as preferred Inglewood has been roiled over the last week by allegations that the city’s mayor acted inappropriately at a community event, accusations he strong denies and insists are politically motivated.Inglewood Mayor James T.Butts Jr.
held an emotional news conference Monday, speaking publicly for the first time against claims he inappropriately touched a high school student while posing for a group photo at the city’s recent “Votechella” event.Standing outside of Inglewood City Hall, flanked by local and regional leaders and two large poster boards bearing the message “Stop the lies.
Stop the billionaires,” Butts said attacks against him are driven by local activists and also tied to a larger political battle between the city and the operators of its large entertainment venues.Exactly what happened at the community event on the lawn outside of City Hall remains unclear.The student and her family have not made any public statements on the alleged misconduct.
A representative for the family told The Times they had been advised by legal counsel not to discuss the incident and to “let the investigation run its course,” but would not clarify who is investigating.In an emotionally charged, eight-minute speech, Butts accused his rivals of mounting a libelous and racist smear campaign depicting him as a Black man unable to control his impulses.He noted that there is no evidence of a complaint being filed by the alleged victim or her family and headed back inside the building without taking questions from the crowd of reporters and residents.Accusations against Butts, who has served as the city’s leader since 2010, came to public attention Thursday when a coalition of political activists held a news conference in the same location.
None of the speakers witnessed the alleged inappropriate touching of a ...