HOUSTON – City council member Jolanda Jones used her position as a city official to solicit clients for her private law practice, according to an investigation by the Office of Inspector General.
The investigation into conflict-of-interest allegations launched after Jones and her volunteers passed out fliers at a town hall meeting in February. The fliers urged attendees to "never speak with the police" unless they talked to a lawyer first. Jones' phone number was listed for legal services. The ethics probe found it was a city-issued number, making its insertion on the flyer "unlawful."
After the incident, Jones said she broke no ethics rules and was acting as a private citizen. Jones told 11 News she has organized legal workshops for more than a decade for lower-income residents. She said it was not a conflict of interest, since she was invited to the town hall meeting as a panelist and lawyer – not a council member.
The Office of Inspector General investigation also found that Jones did not violate her oath of office, but did violate several city ordinances. Those violations include using her city council staff to assist her in the running of her private law practice and using the city’s office equipment to conduct business for her practice.
She was also found in violation of executive order by failing to cooperate and interfering with the investigation. According to the report, she told her staff not to meet with the OIG investigator.
“I have just received this report and will comment further once I have reviewed it," Jones said in a written statement late Wednesday night. "I hold myself and my staff to the highest ethical standards. I look forward to clearing up any misunderstandings with respect to this report as expeditiously as the process permits.”
The Houston Police Officers’ Union originally brought the complaint against Jones.
“Many HPD officers have been disappointed by council member’s actions,” Lt. Ray Hunt said Wednesday. “They were unprofessional, reprehensible and self-serving.”
City Attorney David Feldman said late Wednesday that he did not believe District Attorney Pat Lykos would file any criminal charges against Jones since the findings did not rise to that level. But he said several of the violations amount to Class C misdemeanors, which fall under the city’s jurisdiction.
"She could be impeached,” said Bob Stein, KHOU 11 News’ political analyst. “But it's very close to Election Day in November, so I suspect the council will avoid the impeachment and go for a censure."
Jones is running for a third term. So far at least two candidates have announced they’re running against her.
"I think this is just one more opportunity for candidates for the at-large seat to arise and I think now she will probably draw some serious opponents."
