Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon resigns after corruption arrest
Posted: Mar 26, 2014 1:43 PM EST Updated: Mar 26, 2014 10:41 PM EST
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Charlotte mayor Patrick
Cannon has resigned, effective immediately in letter to city manager and
city attorney, according to the city manager's office.
MORE
Former mayor compares corruption charges to a 'dirty movie'
Hours
after news broke that Charlotte mayor Patrick Cannon had been arrested
for federal corruption charges by the FBI, former mayor Richard Vinroot
said he felt like he was in a 'dirty movie.'
Patrick Cannon resigned his position as Charlotte mayor on Wednesday night, nearly eight hours after he was arrested by the FBI on charges of theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official right.
Continue reading >>Patrick Cannon resigned his position as Charlotte mayor on Wednesday night, nearly eight hours after he was arrested by the FBI on charges of theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official right.
The resignation comes hours after Cannon was arrested by the FBI on federal corruption charges.
"I hereby give notice of my
resignation from the position of the Mayor of the City of Charlotte,
effective immediately," the letter to city manager Ron Carlee and city
attorney Bob Hagemann said.
"In light of the charges that
have been brought against me, it is my judgment that the pendency of
these charges will create too much of a distraction for the business of
the City to go forward smoothly and without interruption."
"It is my hope that by my taking
this action, the members of our City Council and the staff of the City
will continue to move the City forward," he continued. "The City is
fortunate to have officials and staff who are competent, loyal and
committed to advancing the interests of all of our people."
"I regret that I have to take
this action, but I believe that it is in the best interest of the City
for me to do so," Cannon ended the resignation letter with.
According to a federal criminal
complaint filed in U.S. District Court, Patrick DeAngelo Cannon was
charged with theft and bribery concerning programs receiving federal
funds, honest services wire fraud and extortion under color of official
right.
According to court documents, during the
course of a separate criminal investigation, the FBI received reliable
information that Cannon, a Democrat, was potentially involved in illegal
activities associated with his position as an elected official, and
began an undercover investigation in or about August 2010.
Cannon was elected as Charlotte mayor in November 2013 and took office in December.
According to documents, Cannon allegedly
solicited and accepted money bribes and things of value from undercover
FBI agents, posing as commercial real estate developers and investors
wishing to do business in Charlotte.
Cannon is accused of soliciting and accepting
bribes and items of value in exchange for the use of his official
position as Charlotte Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and/or as a City Council
Member.
"I am both saddened and angered because I
have known Patrick and his family for over 30 years, but more than
anything, my heart is broken for the City of Charlotte," said North
Carolina Governor Pat McCrory.
"This is not the city that I know, served and love. This alleged behavior is inexcusable and cannot be tolerated."
Cannon is accused of accepted the bribes from the undercover FBI agents on five separate occasions.
Cannon is accused of accepted the bribes from the undercover FBI agents on five separate occasions.
According to the affidavit, during on meeting
Cannon took $12,500 from undercover FBI agent and "place the money near
his ear and fanned the bills."
The next day, during a phone conversation
with the undercover agent, Cannon said that he looked good "in an orange
necktie, but not an orange suit," according to the affidavit.
On the last occasion, on February 21, Cannon
allegedly accepted leather briefcase with $20,000 in cash, while in the
Mayor's office.
According to affidavit, Cannon accepted over
$48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room, and use of a luxury
apartment in exchange for the use of his official position.
Charlotte City Council released a statement
about Cannon's arrest on Wednesday afternoon saying no one on the
council knew about the investigation and learned of his arrest at the
same time as the public.
"The City Council is deeply disappointed to
learn of the Mayor's arrest. Our thoughts and prayers are with his
family. His arrest came as a complete surprise to the City Council and
the City Manager," the statement read. "The first any of us learned
about the investigation is when the FBI served a search warrant on the
Mayor's Office at noon today."
Charlotte City Manager Ron Carlee said that
he was the only member of the council to speak to Mayor Cannon and did
not ask him to resign.
According to rules, Mayor Pro Tem Michael Barnes will take over immediate mayoral duties and preside over council meetings.
The council is slated to appoint a mayor to
fulfill the remainder of the term, but no special council meeting has
been called yet.
Several days before he was elected as mayor
of Charlotte in 2013, then mayor Pro Tem Patrick Cannon, sat down with
WBTV's Paul Cameron.
Cameron asked Cannon about taking $1,000 from
Carolina Panthers' owner Jerry Richardson for his campaign and throwing
his support towards a $87.5 million package for Richardson from the
city.
Cannon recused himself from the vote itself, but acknowledge his support.
"Not at all," Cannon said when asked if he
felt untoward about taking the money. "Largely in part because you know
people all the time between developers, lawyers who come down before the
city council - a lot of people who do business with the city - they
will contribute."
However, the one thing you have to have in
the way of an elected official is somebody who will not be subservient
to anybody who will give," he continued. "I let people know up front
that [giving money] doesn't guarantee you anything in the terms of a
vote from Patrick Cannon."
According to the affidavit, at one point
before visiting President Barack Obama in December 2013, Cannon
discussed his visit with the undercover agent and laid out his plans to
pitch the Lynx Gold Line as a top priority for Charlotte.
Cannon had his initial appearance Tuesday and has been released on bond, pending indictment, according to the release.
The charge of theft and bribery concerning
programs receiving federal funds carries a statutory maximum sentence of
10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; the charge of honest services
wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of not more than 20
years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine; and the charge of extortion under
color of official right carries a statutory maximum sentence of not
more than 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The charges contained in the criminal complaint are allegations.
"I am in shock," Charlotte Mayor Pro tem
Michael Barnes told WBTV's David Spunt on Wednesday after Cannon was
arrested. "He's been a close friend for years."
Barnes said he will "let this go though the legal system."
"I'm devastated. This is a horrible day for
Charlotte and [Cannon's] family" Democratic at-large council member
Claire Fallon told WBTV.
"No one saw this coming," she continued. "I'm devastated for my city, the city I love."
After news of his arrest broke, the North Carolina Republican Party issued a statement.
"Patrick Cannon should immediately resign as
mayor of Charlotte following his arrest by the FBI on public corruption
charges. Accepting monetary bribes, as Mr. Cannon has allegedly done, is
an egregious and unforgivable breach of the public's trust, and the
taxpayers of Charlotte deserve much better. We hope the North Carolina
Democratic Party will join us in calling on Patrick Cannon to step
down."
Former council member James Mitchell served with Patrick Cannon and lost the Democratic primary to Cannon in his run for mayor.
"When I ran for mayor, it wasn't to run
against Patrick Cannon, it was because I had ideas to make Charlotte a
better city," Mitchell told WBTV. "It's important that Charlotte have
leaders it can trust. I'm focused on running for Congress, and will
watch as the judicial process unfolds."
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