Durham City Council member reaffirms commitment to city after being cleared in SBI investigation

Durham City Council Member Monique Holsey-Hyman will not face state charges for allegations of extortion, bribery and using a city employee to engage in campaign activities on city time, Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry announced Tuesday.

“Given the results of the SBI investigation, there is no probable cause to pursue charges against Council Member Holsey-Hyman,” Deberry wrote. “In fact, the SBI was unable to discover any credible allegations against her at all.”

Holsey-Hyman spoke at a press conference Wednesday morning about the allegations against her at City Hall. Mayor Elaine O’Neal and council member DeDreana Freeman were there to offer support.

Holsey-Hyman said the allegations upended her life, but she knew the truth would come out and her commitment to serve Durham hasn't wavered.

"This experience has enforced my determination," said Holsey-Hyman. "My love for city and eagerness to contribute has not changed."

The DA's report says Edens did not cooperate with the SBI investigation, never providing an interview or even a written statement.

Holsey-Hyman said the support from Durham citizens got her through the last seven months.

"I want to assure you that I am deeply committed to honest governance and will continue to advocate for the issues that mean the most to people in Durham," Holsey-Hyman said.

After the discussion about censuring Holsey-Hyman at the March City Council meeting, WRAL cameras captured a heated exchange between Councilor Dedreana Freeman and Mayor Pro Tem Mark-Anthony Middleton. Mayor O'Neal spoke on that incident for the first time Wednesday.

"What I did see when I rounded the corner was the hands of councilman Williams on councilwoman Freeman, who was then saying get your hands off of me," O'Neal said.

Councilor Leonardo Williams has now released a statement on that incident saying, "I intervened to stop a physical altercation. In the process, I put myself in harm's way and while unintentional, I was hit, and i put my hands up to block further hits."

Williams also said the only ones present at that time were Freeman, Middleton, and himself with O'Neal arriving after to assist.

In June, Holsey-Hyman said she’s been bullied by fellow city council members.

The state got involved in March after allegations that Holsey-Hyman solicited a campaign donation from developer Edens Investments President Jarrod Edens to secure her “yes” vote on annexation and rezoning applications pending before the city council.

Holsey-Hyman is up for reelection this fall. There are three Durham City Council seats up for grabs. The top six finishers in the Oct. 10 primary election move on to the Nov. 7 election. In-person early voting starts Thursday for the Oct. 10 primary.

“There is no evidence that she solicited a campaign contribution from Jarrod Edens or that she attempted to extort anything from him in exchange for her vote on his development project,” Deberry wrote. “There is also no evidence that Holsey-Hyman solicited campaign work from a city employee.

“Additionally, there is also no evidence that there was a coordinated effort led by any other Council Member to initiate allegations against Holsey-Hyman.”

It’s unclear whether the FBI’s separate investigation is still ongoing into the allegations against Holsey-Hyman.

On Tuesday, WRAL News reached out to Edens with a request for comment but did not hear back.

A special agent with the State Bureau of Investigation [SBI] interviewed Mayor Elaine O’Neal, city council members, including Holsey-Hyman, and city staff.

“She not only willingly answered his questions, but she also voluntarily provided documentation of her conversations with the developer, Jarrod Edens,” Deberry wrote. “[Special agent N.] Deming reviewed text messages between Holsey-Hyman and Edens and found nothing improper.

“In fact, Deming noted that Holsey-Hyman remained courteous, respectful, and forthcoming during a very stressful set of circumstances.”

Deberry wrote that Edens “avoided every attempt” for the special agent to interview him. She said Edens did not answer calls or return messages left by the special agent.

“When Deming did get him on the phone, Edens agreed to an interview and then did not appear,” Deberry wrote. “Afterwards, Deming was contacted by an attorney retained by Edens.”

Deberry wrote that Edens planned to provide a written statement, and never did.

“During the time in which Edens was avoiding an interview with the SBI, the development issue under question came back up for a vote before [the Durham City] Council and was approved without participation by Holsey-Hyman,” Deberry wrote. “According to Deming, after the vote, Edens showed no interest in either repeating or pursuing his initial allegations made to Planning Director [Sara] Young.”

The special agent also interviewed the city staffer allegedly engaged in campaign activity, Deberry wrote.

“According to the employee, they volunteered information to Council Member Holsey-Hyman,” Deberry wrote. “She did not request it either directly or indirectly.

“The employee received a written reprimand for providing the information.”