A Louisiana city council meeting ended in chaos when its mayor got into a shouting match with residents and allegedly snatched a phone from the hands of a woman who was recording the scene.
Mayor Kesia Lemoine of Elton, a city of more than 1,000 people in Louisiana’s Jefferson Davis Parish, was charged with assault over Monday’s outburst, KPLC reported.
The video shows Lemoine screaming and being restrained by some of those who attended the meeting as she leaves the room.
He then turns his attention to the woman filming and attempts to take the phone out of her hands, prompting the woman to yell, “Keep your fucking hands off me!”
Someone else stops the mayor and takes him away while a police officer also intervenes, according to the clip.
Lemoine defended his actions to local outlet KLFY, saying someone threatened his family. The alleged threat was not captured on video.
After the city adjourned, an argument involving Elton Mayor Kesia Lemoine continued in the hallway. via KPLC TV
“As a mother, I’m a protector and that really made me go out of character,” Lemoine said. “I apologize for my actions because I am the mayor and they hold me to a different standard. But I am also human and I have feelings.”
Tensions rose during the meeting when the topic of grants came up and someone asked about a grant writer who is believed to have been fired.
#LOOK: Moment Louisiana Mayor Kesia Lemoine clashes with another woman during council meeting, but blames her behavior on being a mother
The video shows Elton Mayor Kesia Lemoine clashing with an unidentified woman whom she then argued with inside a meeting room.
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“We’re talking about the budget, you’re very wrong about something else,” Lemoine snapped, proceeding to become visibly angrier. “We are within budget. You are out of order. If you say anything else, we will escort you outside.”
A city council meeting in Elton, Louisiana, descended into chaos after conversations about the budget and other contentious issues arose. via KPLC TV
The conversation then turned to the topic of the mayor’s salary and accusations that a secret meeting had taken place, according to KPLC.
After the meeting was adjourned, the argument continued, leading to an altercation in the hallway.
The controversy with the mayor began earlier this year, when a petition was filed to remove Lemoine from office following allegations of voter fraud. After Monday’s incident, a second recall petition was reportedly delivered to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards’ office.
The controversy with Mayor Kesia Lemoine began earlier this year with accusations of voter fraud. via KPLC TV
In June, Lemoine’s son was accused of assaulting the alleged whistleblower of voting irregularities. He was sentenced to probation for the assault, which took place at an Elton car wash.
Lemoine was elected last year after serving eight years on the city council and was mayor pro tempore for the year before the election.
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