The Stockbridge City Council has cut off Mayor Jayden Williams’ access to his city-issued credit card, fuel card and city vehicles as an independent investigator examines allegations about his spending, according to local reports.
Mr. Williams, 22, was sworn in as mayor of the metro Atlanta city roughly six months ago, making him one of the youngest mayors in Georgia history. He unseated incumbent Mayor Anthony Ford in the 2025 election.
The council voted unanimously last Friday to restrict Mr. Williams’ access to non-public city buildings, city vehicles and city funds while the investigation proceeds, and it ordered him to turn over his credit card and other city property by noon Monday. Mayor Pro Tempore Elton Alexander said the council does not yet know how much money is involved or whether the spending was authorized, and city officials said they could deactivate the mayor’s cards and building access remotely if he did not comply with the deadline.
“The city is booming right now… so none of us want to be here,” Mr. Alexander said, noting a third-party investigator was hired Tuesday to determine whether Mr. Williams’ spending was authorized, according to Atlanta News First.
Mr. Alexander said the scrutiny began after information from the city manager’s office “raised red flags” about Mr. Williams’ spending, though officials have not detailed the specific transactions under review.
Reporters from WSB-TV stationed outside Stockbridge City Hall on Monday did not see Mr. Williams arrive to meet the deadline. The mayor has not been charged with a crime, and the council’s resolution states the restrictions are administrative and don’t constitute a finding of wrongdoing.
In a statement, Mr. Williams said he has “taken legal action to ensure that the City of Stockbridge follows a fair, open and transparent process,” adding that no conclusions should be reached before the facts are established.
Mr. Alexander said the mayor retains his title and constitutional rights during the review, can still preside over council meetings, and that the investigation is expected to take 30 to 45 days.
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