Some speculated that embattled Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, a Democrat, would resign after her home was raided in a massive drug bust on Wednesday evening and her husband was charged with drug and gun related charges.
Nothing of the sort happened on Thursday.
During a brief and pointed press conference outside her City Hall office, Mayor Warren attacked Monroe Country District Attorney Sandra Doorley as being politically motivated to “break” her.
Warren characterized Doorley as a woman “eager and angry at me for supporting her [political] opponent.”
As she compared her embattled political year to the Book of Job and repeatedly referenced her faith in God, Warren also called the timing of the drug-related arrests that swept up her husband “highly suspicious.”
“We still need to ask ourselves, why? Why would they do this now? Because they saw, like you saw, that the momentum was building in our favor in the mayoral race, and I was going to be found innocent in my election law case, because I did nothing wrong. Let’s ask ourselves why, after I announced that I was going forward with reparations and universal basic income … they saw, like you saw. Let’s ask ourselves why, at the exact time that the police are knocking at my door, The New York Times, all the way from Manhattan, were sending me an email, asking me about this. Finally, we need to ask ourselves, why, if this is not about politics, why is Tim’s [the mayor’s husband] next court date June 24, the day before Primary Day? Now, that’s quite the coincidence.”
Related: Democrat Mayor’s Home Raided In Connection To Major Drug Bust; Husband Hit With Gun, Drug Charges
“There’s nothing implicating me in these charges announced today because I’ve done nothing wrong,” Warren emphasized to reporters.
As noted by the Democrat & Chronicle, Warren will face a criminal trial later this year concerning allegations of campaign finance fraud. She’s also dealing with claims of wrongful termination by former Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary and questions over her handling of the Daniel Prude case, including a potential attempted cover-up.
The mayor’s husband, Timothy Granison, was arrested Wednesday evening and hit with two drug charges and one gun charge, The Daily Wire reported Thursday morning:
Granison pleaded not guilty on Thursday morning to two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree and criminal possession of a firearm, according to Rochester First.
The judge was unable to place bail due to the nature of the charges and Granison was released on his own recognizance.
Here are some major takeaways from an earlier Thursday press conference from Doorley:
- Granison’s arrest was part of a seven-months-long investigation; he was not the initial target.
- There were numerous warrants executed on Wednesday night, in addition to the Granison/Warren home. Seven locations were hit between Wednesday night and Thursday morning and more arrests are expected.
- At the time of the arrest, only the couple’s daughter was home, prompting questions from reporters concerning potential child endangerment charges in relation to the gun charge. Doorley refused to comment, but noted more charges are coming.
- There have already been 2 kilos of crack cocaine confiscated from the busts, which equates to a street value of more than $60,000. Three firearms have been confiscated and more than $100,000 in cash was recovered.
- Doorley would not confirm nor deny Mayor Warren’s potential involvement in the investigation, including wire-tapping.
WATCH:
Related: Democrat Mayor’s Home Raided In Connection To Major Drug Bust; Husband Hit With Gun, Drug Charges