BLM activist-turned-mayor in Georgia accused of utilizing $26K for unauthorized purchases, together with abroad journey

A Georgia mayor who boasts being the nation’s first Black Lives Matter organizer elected to workplace is going through scrutiny for utilizing $20,000 of public funds for worldwide journey and different questionable purchases, based on reviews.

South Fulton Mayor Khalid Kamau was accused this week of utilizing a city-issued buy card in December for unauthorized spending on a visit to Africa, meals and different bills that totaled round $26,000, a councilwoman reportedly stated this week.

“It’s a pretty big quantity of unauthorized prices,” Councilwoman Helen Willis alleged to Fox 5 Atlanta on Tuesday.

Kamau, who has denied wrongdoing, documented an prolonged journey to Ghana final month on social media based on WSB-TV, displaying him on movies at a celebration and in addition attending a live performance within the nation’s capital.

In one other video, he’s touting potential financial growth connections that may very well be made between the Ghanaian folks and residents in South Fulton.

Airplane tickets value greater than $5,000, a $1,300 drone and varied Amazon purchases have been among the many myriad of things bought, based on paperwork obtained by WSB-TV.

Willis reportedly claimed there are additionally 112 receipts that have to be reconciled or submitted by Kamau, who goes by Mayor Kobi. These submissions reportedly should occur inside 72 hours.

Whereas Willis stated “it seems so” when requested if the mayor made unsanctioned purchases, one other colleague on town council stated she needs extra info earlier than drawing any conclusions, Fox 5 reported.

“Presently, it has not been decided that that has taken place,” Councilwoman Linda Pritchett reportedly stated.

“I wish to see the mayor have the chance to deal with the problem transparently,” she added.

There isn’t any metropolis coverage on worldwide journey, however the card can’t be used for private gadgets or providers, the station reported.

“I wished to search out out if taxpayers paid for this journey,” resident Reshard Snellings instructed WSB-TV. “We shouldn’t be requested to go with out one thing in order that our elected officers can journey everywhere in the globe.”

The mayor, first elected to town council in 2017, claimed to WSB-TV the criticism is “a smear marketing campaign” motivated by politics.

Mayor Kobi additionally briefly addressed the scrutiny Friday night, saying his employees is engaged on publishing the receipts so the general public can see the paperwork for themselves.

He stated on an Instagram reside video the worldwide journey was tied to spice up financial growth alternatives.

“All of us notice, all of us haven’t been utilizing the (buy) card or journey coverage the best way that they’re outlined within the coverage as a result of the coverage is simply unworkable,” he stated in reference to speaking with different metropolis officers. “It was written to trick folks up and never get issues finished.”

Kamau has described himself as an “elected activist” who has been concerned in civic engagement for years, together with serving to set up the Atlanta chapter of the Black Lives Matter motion.

“America’s first #BlackLivesMatter organizer elected to public workplace, Mayor khalid … is main a era of younger activists from protests to politics,” based on the bio on the metropolis web site. 

He didn’t instantly return an e-mail looking for touch upon Friday.