Mississippi Today received quite a bit of assistance from Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba when his indictment was unsealed in November.
Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced in a Facebook video that he would be indicted on federal public corruption charges. The video was posted at 4:31 PM on November 6.
Mississippi Today's star reporter Anna Wolfe broke the news 15 minutes before the Mayor posted the video and notified the media.
Ms. Wolfe's story was no mere blurb announcing the indictment and posting the video but was a full-length story of over 900 words. It is almost as if the story was already written, packaged up, and ready to go before the Mayor announced his indictment. Article. Well, perhaps such was indeed the case.
JJ obtained a copy of the Mayor's calendar through a public records request. The calender states Ms. Wolfe met with Hizzoner for 90 minutes the day before he announced his indictment.
The indictments were unsealed November 7 in U.S. District Court. Ms. Wolfe duly reported on that day's events. Curiously enough, her article included an interview with Jackson Planning & Zoning Director Jhai Keeton (No relation to Alex). It was quite the coup to get some face-time with a city official to discuss the subject of the Mayor's indictment.
Mr. Keeton predictably took the Mayor's side. Ms. Wolfe reported:
Lumumba had already been in conversation with the city’s Planning and Development Director Jhai Keeton about when to end the bid (KF: RFQ deadline for convention center hotel project) because they originally chose to extend it by about a month and a half in late February, Keeton said. Originally, FST was the only developer to express interest in the project, Keeton said, and he had wanted to give developers more time to respond. While Lumumba was in South Florida meeting with the undercover agents, he called Keeton and told him to move the deadline back two weeks to April 16. Keeton didn’t think too much of it, he said, because the mayor had already expressed that “we don’t want to lose anyone we’ve got hoping to get new people.” “There were still two weeks available to create more competition.” Keeton said. Two other companies handed in their responses on the day of the deadline. The planning department did not select a winner.
Ms. Wolfe reported more statements in her November 7 article:
Early on, the agents’ conversations about development in downtown Jackson were frenetic. Keeton, the city planning director, said they talked about “buying Farish Street.” “They were saying all the fuzzy, feel good stuff,” Keeton said. He said he got turned off after they invited him to a strip club and after they once asked to push a meeting later in the day because they were “still hungover from last night,” Keeton recalled.
However, Mr. Keeton provided some really interesting statements:
The informant then asked Lumumba to move the Statement of Qualifications deadline, the indictment alleges. The mayor called Keeton, his planning director overseeing the bid process. Keeton described the phone call: “Phone rings. ‘What’s up boss man?’ ‘Aye man, let’s go ahead and move that date back.’ ‘Alright cool.’ ‘Alright goodbye.’ That was the conversation.” The request didn’t come as a surprise, Keeton said, because the bid had already been open longer than planned and the mayor didn’t “want to lose anyone we’ve got hoping to get new people.” The indictment alleges that Lumumba understood the campaign donation from the developers was in exchange for him directing his employee to change the deadline, but it does not include quotes from Lumumba about this.
Now why would the Mayor make his employee available to Mississippi Today or give so much face time to friendly media?
46 comments:
Ms Payne is earning her paycheck by trying to control the media narrative for her boss. Of course some outlets are more eager to help Hizzoner than others.
No Pigott, No Pulitizer.
I think we can see where defense will be going. So the mayor had already planned to move the date. The “campaign contribution” had nothing to do with that decision and it was mere happenstance that the mayor actually did cause the date to be moved at the time he accepted the donation. Nothing to see here, folks, so move along. And vote for Baby Chock in June.
Access journalism is not investigate journalism.
You control the narrative, or it controls you. Nothing new here. All politicians do this.
Great reporting KF. Wouldn't surprise me one bit if MT wants to push Chokwe's narrative with AW's assistance.
Who wants to wager that the water carrying Barksdalers are looking for a way to attack Henifin and/or some aspect of the Jackson Water operation?
Don't doubt for a second that Wolfe has also met with Rukia. The Lumumbas have paid off their side of the quid pro quo. Every mayoral candidate with legit chance of making a runoff is about to get smeared by that crew.
Oh, pish tosh, KF. That is to say, poppycock. Balderdash. Flapdoodle. This is America, I have to remind you, apparently, where we have an adversarial news media that unswervingly follows the journalistic tradition and principles of honest, free, and fair reportage.
11:18 The only one to be moving along Melissa will be your boss the Mayor. It is illegal to change dates on open bidding contracts RFP!
Barksdalers rooting for Chokwe? I'm shocked, shocked I say!
Obviously, Lumumba's story is that he was already going to move the deadline, so there was no "quo" for the "quid." It was all just an innocent campaign contribution, as far as he knew.
It looks like Ms. Wolfe allowed herself to be used to undermine a federal public corruption case, in exchange for a scoop. That looks like a "quid pro quo" unto itself.
Here's a little timeline:
Nov. 5 at 8:00 p.m.: Wolfe met with Lumumba for 90 minutes;
Nov. 6 at 4:15 p.m.: Wofle broke the story of Lumumba's indictment;
Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m.: Lumumba released his video statement, publicly disclosing that he has been indicted;
Nov. 7: The federal court unsealed the indictment
Did Lumumba give her a copy the indictment when they met on Nov. 5, the day before his statement was released, and two days before the indictment was unsealed?
How else would she know exactly what the indictment says: "The informant then asked Lumumba to move the Statement of Qualifications deadline, the indictment alleges."
Good work KF!!
Just imagine being the Propaganda Arm for a corrupt Mayor.
Oh spare me. Like you wouldn't have jumped at the chance for the scoop
I only get my news from Mississippi Today. I know I can trust them because they are non-profit. They're not in it for the money. They're just plain good folks.
“Flapdoodle”…word of the day.
Shad White’s office was funneling information to Anna Wolfe early on in the welfare matter. If she has to disclose her sources, you’ll see.
1:12.."non-profit" the money behind MT doesn't need to make a profit. The up and coming purveyors of the wisdom received by their journalistic egos do. After all, there are egos to underwrite and egos are expensive.
1:03 wrote: "Oh spare me. Like you wouldn't have jumped at the chance for the scoop"
Anything for the story, huh? Including being used to spin a defense by an utterly corrupt mayor?
Just because you think others would do it too doesn't make it OK.
MT is always begging for contributions to stay open. I'm old enough to remember the line, "Follow the money." If you're not familiar with it, do a little research.
Let’s take a step back and look at the broader picture here. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has consistently demonstrated transparency in his communication with the public and media, even in the face of adversity. His decision to release a video statement addressing the indictment ahead of its unsealing shows a willingness to be upfront with the people of Jackson.
As for the timing of Anna Wolfe's story, it’s not uncommon for investigative journalists to work on background pieces in anticipation of major developments, especially when such events are public knowledge among key stakeholders. The meeting with the Mayor a day prior could have been an effort to ensure accuracy and context, not a “quid pro quo” as some are implying.
The claims that the Mayor intentionally influenced deadlines or engaged in misconduct ignore the complexity of the situation. His administration has often worked to encourage competitive development opportunities for Jackson. While skepticism is understandable, it’s essential to rely on facts and due process rather than conjecture.
The Mayor has made his case openly and transparently, and the public should reserve judgment until all evidence is presented in court. It’s unfair and counterproductive to frame his cooperation with the media as anything other than a commitment to keeping the community informed.
Let’s focus on ensuring that the truth comes to light through proper legal and journalistic processes rather than resorting to inflammatory accusations. Everyone deserves their day in court, free from the rush to judgment.
Good job exposing Hizzoner and his secret meetings KF!
Slow clap for 2:33.....great job with that. I cannot imagine finer parody written than what you just did.
So transparency is taking money from developers, moving a deadline, cashing a few checks then attempting to get ahead of an indictment by spinning the story?
Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has consistently demonstrated transparency in his communication with the public and media ...
TOTAL Garbage.
She's what they like to call a "Token". Wolf? More like an alley cat.
Crookway, Safari Omari, Jhai Keeton met with the Wolfe to announce why they got their phones taken right?
Spare us the "through proper legal and journalistic processes" crapola. You don't control the narrative.
Worst.Jackson.Mayor.Ever
Wait! Are you suggesting that Anna Wolfe is running interference for a mayor and administration whose political ideology aligns with her own? I'm shocked. Shocked, I tell ya'
A reporter gets a scoop and writes about it. If he had called KF, would he had not taken the meeting? Of course. So would the NY Times or Magnolia Tribune.
Is this what we're complaining about these days?
3:01 PM
I honestly can't tell if it's satire or not. Completely in Poe's Law territory.
@3:44 is saying that KF is stupid and would have allowed himself to be used by Lumumba. I'm not buying it.
The mayor leaks news of his indictment to his pet Wolfe while disregarding the Mississippi Free Press ally. Now that's interesting! So much for transparency!
Ya'll complain if he doesn't make changes. Ya'll complain when he does make changes. When are ya'll ever satisfied. I don't agree with everything that happens, but the blame does not completely rely on the mayor. City council must be held accountable for a lot that is happening in Jackson. Considering you have people in office for 20+ years.
2:33, HAHAHAHAHAHA that's a good one!
If Lumumba had just parachuted in from Mars, and had absolutely no documented history, then I might consider that entire comment as something other than satire. Thanks for the laugh!
3:44, It's more like: A criminal defendant public official somehow gets his hands on an indictment days before it is unsealed, then shows it to a local reporter and gives said reporter exclusive access to write the story the official wants told.
The reporter then writes a non-critical piece, basically publishing the official's legal defense to the indictment that hasn't even been unsealed yet.
It's professional prostitution. As someone with a journalism degree, yes, I am complaining about it.
Keeton, the city planning director, said they talked about “buying Farish Street." They aren't the FBI by the way! Chokwe is a joke!
So the date don’t matter, but then….” April 2, 2024 - Owens, Lumumba, Smith, and developers, travel to Ft. Lauderdale via private jet paid for by FBI; Owens and Lumumba meet with developers in private room on yacht; Developer 1 asks Lumumba to have RFQ submission deadline moved up to April 10 or April 15; Lumumba calls city employee and directs them to move date to April 15; Developer 2 hands Lumumba five $10,000 checks in an envelope; developers agree to pay mayor $50,000 more in future; Owens receives $50,000 in cash; meeting is audio and video recorded”
If his lips are moving, he's lying.
3:44, A reporter becoming complicit by using her position to assist a public official in undermining a prosecution for public corruption is what we're complaining about.
That you think this is just business as usual speaks volumes about you. Perhaps you have been too close to the Lumumba administration for too long.
I ‘m more interested in the mayor’s story framing than how he got it out there. If he thinks that defense has any shot he’s viewing it like a very I inexperienced attorney would. You come up with a story that explains it all away and are so biased you just assume a jury will buy it. His problem is he took the money. The jury isn’t going to focus on or even care about moving the deadline. That’s a hoop the prosecutors have to jump through to get it to the jury. It can be a thin argument and the judge will still let the jury decide. He took the money so the jury is going to convict. A good lawyer would know this.
Is this comment a parody? The mayor who hasn’t filed a campaign finance report in years is transparent? That’s hilarious. Well done.
The city Jackson is sickening. I’m ashamed of what it has become. . w.
January 15, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Sir, you need to understand that the governing structure of Jackson is strong mayor weak council. This means that the council basically approves what monies are appropriated, but does not direct how the money is used. If the governing structure was weak mayor-council you'd have a point.
There is also Council-manager government: https://ballotpedia.org/Council-manager_government
If you do not under stand these concepts here is a refresher: https://ballotpedia.org/Mayor-council_government
Even Ray Charles would see that taking the money and then being treated to a trip to the nude cabaret means it's time to cop a plea!
It is sickening to see Baby Choc and his cronies Omari and Keeton attack other council members because of their vote! Has Wolfe reported on that? We need positive solutions!
@2:33....When was the last time the gumflapper filed his campaign forms for YEARS.... AND WHY does he not file them? HUMMM...We will wait for your answer Chuckles.
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