Pastor describes what happened during exchange after Durham City Council work session
WHO THEY ARE, YOU'RE ASKED TO
CALL THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> NEW THIS HOUR, WE'RE HEARING
FROM ONE OF ONLY A HANDFUL OF
PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SAW NOT
JUST HEARD THIS VERY TENSE
EXCHANGE BETWEEN 2 DURHAM
COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THURSDAY.
THE OUTBURST HAPPENING BEHIND A
WALL INSIDE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
AFTER A MEETING IN WHICH ONE
MEMBER WAS ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED
EXTORTION. WRAL'S DURHAM
REPORTER SARAH KRUEGER WAS AT
THAT MEETING. ALSO HEARING AND
REACTING TO THAT SHOCKING SOUND
THERE. SHE JOINS US NOW LIVE
WITH NEW INFORMATION. SARAH.
>> WE KNOW THE AUDIO ITSELF IS
STUNNING, OF COURSE, BUT I
WANTED TO GET A BETTER IDEA OF
WHAT WAS VISUALLY HAPPENING
BEHIND THAT WALL. AND THAT IS
WHAT THE WITNESS I SPOKE TO
WILL TELL US NOW. IN ADDITION
TO THAT, I HAVE ALSO OBTAINED
THE INTERNAL MEMO SENT BY THE
CITY ATTORNEY TO CITY COUNCIL
DETAILING THE ALLEGATIONS.
>> AND PROFANITIES ECHOED
THROUGH COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THE VOICES ARE THOSE OF MAYOR
PRO TEM MARK-ANTHONY MIDDLETON
AND COUNCILWOMAN DEED RIHANNA.
FREEMAN ALSO BEHIND THAT WALL
WATCHING. MOST OF IT WAS LOCAL
PASTOR ANTONIO WOULD WAS IT
HARD FOR YOU TO WATCH WHAT
UNFOLDED
>> OH, IT SINCE IT WAS. HE HAD
BEEN AT THE MEETING SPEAKING
AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE AND
DECIDED TO STAY SPIRIT IN ME.
WITH SAYING SOMETHING WAS ABOUT
TO GO WRONG. PASTOR WOULD SAYS
ANOTHER COUNCIL MEMBER AND THE
MAYOR WERE ALSO PRESENT TRYING
TO KEEP THE PEACE IN A
STATEMENT TODAY, MAYOR PRO TEM
MIDDLETON TOLD ME FREEMAN MADE
SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO PHYSICALLY
STRIKE ME. I ASKED PASTOR WOULD
ABOUT THAT ACCOUNT. IS THAT
RIGHT? NO LEGS. I WAS STANDING
THERE. SHE WAS JUST TALKING
IS YES. USE THE OUTBURST,
FOLLOWED A TENSE MEETING IN
WHICH COUNCIL MEMBER MONIQUE
COZY HEINEMAN WAS ACCUSED OF
USING A CITY STAFFER TO WORK
ON HER CAMPAIGN AND OF TELLING
A DEVELOPER SHE WOULD APPROVE
A PROJECT IN EXCHANGE FOR A
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION. WRAL
OBTAINED THE INTERNAL MEMO SENT
BY CITY ATTORNEY KIMBERLY
RAYBURG EXPLAINS THE DEVELOPER
WHO HAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED
APPLICATIONS HELD ONE-ON-ONE
MEETINGS WITH CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S WHERE THE REPORTED
EXTORTION ATTEMPT WAS MADE.
>> I DO NOT KNOW IF THE
FOREGOING ALLEGATION IS TRUE.
HOWEVER, AS A COUNSEL FOR THE
CITY, I FIND IT EXTREMELY
ALARMING. IF TRUE RAYBURG SAYS
THAT IS A FELONY.
>> AND I CHECKED IN TODAY WITH
THE DURHAM DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE. IN A STATEMENT DA SET
ON A DEBERRY TOLD ME THAT SHE
HAS ASKED THE FBI TO STEP IN
AND INVESTIGATE THOSE
ALLEGATIONS OF EXTORTION.
I ALSO REACHED OUT TO THE SBI
TO ASK IF THEY HAVE BEGUN THEIR
INVESTIGATION AT THIS POINT.