Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade still insists he was the victim of a hate crime even after a KKK style cross burning was revealed as a hoax perpetrated by supporters now sitting in jail, one of whom is a Black man.
And Mobolade remains mum as to whether he lied to investigators about his texts with the key suspect before the election eve incident, and a five-minute phone call days later, as an FBI source reportedly told the Daily Wire.
Here’s the statement the mayor released on Thanksgiving eve:
“My family and I are victims of a hate crime, allegedly committed by three suspects against our city. I had no knowledge, warning, or involvement in this reprehensible act. It is unfortunately not a new trend that politically motivated websites will weigh in with no regard for accuracy or truth, and interest only in sensationalism and scandal. I fully cooperated in the investigation, and it is important that the judicial process is followed to allow for a successful prosecution that brings justice for our community.”
However, the FBI source says Mobolade did not cooperate fully with investigators.
The Daily Wire reported on November 21 that an FBI official said that the bureau referred the mayor for criminal prosecution for lying after he denied communicating with Bernard in two separate interviews. The Department of Justice refused to prosecute him, citing racial and political considerations, and instead called him in for a third interview, where his story changed to “I don’t recall,” the official said.
A city council member and county commissioner have publicly asked Mobolade whether he lied to investigators as reported.
El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. told The Gazette the mayor’s statement is still confusing and an “unacceptable response.”
“The public shouldn’t have to ask clarification regarding his statement. The fact is that his statement is still confusing as it relates to whether he did or did not lie to the FBI,” said Gonzalez, who was a Colorado Springs mayoral candidate in 2023.
It’s also confusing for the mayor to keep insisting he was the victim of a hate crime even after the three suspects including Derrick Bernard were indicted for staging the hoax to help Mobolade win. It was revealed in the charging documents the suspects supported him for mayor against a white Republican.
Bernard told Mobolade in a text beforehand there was a plot to insure he would win as well as the follow-up phone call.
Interestingly, the indictment includes all the damning texts from Bernard but does not reveal what Mobolade said in response.
Neither the FBI nor Justice Department has refuted the Daily Wire reports.