Virginia Democrat Refuses to Step Down Despite Felony Charges

Despite a 6-0 vote from his colleagues on the city council, Roanoke Councilman Robert Jeffrey Jr. (D) is refusing to take a leave of absence.

Jeffrey's stubbornness comes after authorities indicted the Democrat on two counts of felony embezzlement from a local nonprofit and two counts of felony obtaining money by false pretenses from Roanoke's Economic Development Authority.

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While maintaining his innocence, Jeffrey told his fellow council members, “I'm not leaving office, period.”

Southwest Virginia's NBC affiliate WSLS 10 has more:

The acts reportedly happened in 2020 and 2021.

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Under Virginia law, at this point in the legal process, it would solely be by Jeffrey's decision to step down or continue serving on council.

Jeffrey was elected to Roanoke City Council in November 2020 and began his term on Jan. 1, 2021.