DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield is pushing back against public allegations made by a former boyfriend, that include alleged corruption in City Hall while the now-mayor was President of the Detroit City Council.
At the heart of the allegations is a man named Marvin Walker who used to date the mayor — prior to her getting married and taking office. He alleges that she, as City Council President, used her contacts to steer lucrative city-backed real estate deals to certain local developers, and then would get paid in the process.
In exchange, the allegation, according to Walker, was he delivered at least $200,000 in illegal kickbacks to the mayor.
Even before this story broke over the past couple of days, multiple photos of the former couple were shared to social media, including of Sheffield kissing Walker.
Since that time, Chief of Police Todd Bettison has admitted he reached out to people who posted the photos asking, but not ordering, them to take the photo down.
On Thursday, Sheffield appeared at a restaurant opening downtown where she declined to comment directly to reporters, but she has since released a lengthy statement in which she denies any wrongdoing. Any cash she gave to Walker, Sheffield said, a personal loan with no connection with city business.
"Over the past year, private photographs and communications have been used to bully, harass, and intimidate me. I have largely remained silent but I am compelled to address it now as Marvin Walker, whom I dated years ago, is fabricating lies in an obvious attempt to protect himself from his own criminal and legal troubles.
I want to be crystal clear - NO city funds were ever provided to Mr. Walker, nor has he ever received any city contract. In 2019, he received a total of $1,800 from a non profit for services he provided for community events like all other vendors.
During the course of our relationship, I personally loaned him tens of thousands of dollars. Any funds he provided me was repayment for money he owed me. Again, none of this was related to any city business. It was entirely personal.
Furthermore, I have never used the power of my office to instigate any action or inaction involving Mr. Walker, including through the Detroit Police Department. To the extent that Mr. Walker or his associates are being engaged by law enforcement, that’s a consequence of their own conduct that has nothing to do with me.
Like many people, I made dating choices when I was younger that I’m not proud of. As a married woman, that chapter of my life is long behind me.
I will not allow myself to be bullied, intimidated, and harassed. And I will not be distracted from my work serving the people of Detroit."
For his part, Chief Bettison said in a statement provided to the Detroit Free PressDetroit Free Press:
"I asked Mr. Smith to remove the photos because, as a man and a father, I found them to be inappropriate and believed they were intended to shame and humiliate a woman — something no woman deserves."
Mr. Smith refers to political activist Jahdante Smith, who posted photos of the mayor and Marvin Walker on social media. Bettison and Smith were acquainted prior to this, having met through community organizing and local civic events in Detroit.
Raising some eyebrows, the Freep reported Detroit police confiscated a cell phone belonging to Smith on August 19. Police said the seizure was part of an investigation into a separate complaint from a woman regarding alleged online harassment and a threatening phone call.
The seizure has drawn scrutiny, with claims raised that the police action was in fact aimed at covering up the photos and details surrounding the Walker-Sheffield relationship.
"I will not allow myself to be bullied, intimidated, and harassed"
"I will not allow myself to be bullied, intimidated, and harassed"
