Attorney Defends Atlanta City Councilwoman Indicted Over Community Outreach #lawyerlife

and new at noon an aled Forest Park city council member surrendered to police this morning on charges of theft and making false statements Channel 2’s Amanda cook is live outside the Clayton County Jail in Jonesboro where the former city council member surrendered and was released on bond Amanda Dave it was just in the last 60 minutes or so that Karen Brandy Williams got out of jail here uh we were here as she was being released she was surrounded by several of her supporters this all started over 23 $ in t-shirts other council members alleged that last year Williams used City funds to buy T-shirts for campaign purposes Williams claims the t-shirts were for a community outreach program but four of the other council members voted her off councel Williams and her attorney filed a civil suit appealing that decision but then last week a grand jury indicted Williams over the t-shirts on charges of theft by deception making false statements and violation of oath she had to turn herself into jail today Williams and her attorneys say this is a vast overreaching prosecution and that this is personal because Williams is disabled it started from me asking for an ergonomic chair to sit a little bit more comfortable doing the council meetings in lure of my physical challenges and it just seems like after that just it’s just been one conspiracy after another retaliation you know bullying I think this sits a chilling signal to elected officials that you can be prosecuted for community outreach if Williams is convicted of all three of the charges she faces up to three years in jail uh The Next Step will be her arraignment the date for that has not yet been set we are working right now to try to get comment from the other council members for now we are live in Clayton County Amanda cook Channel 2 Action News