775: Vernon Jones

Vernon Jones is a former George State Representative, Dekalb County chief executive and frequent candidate. For most of his career he was a conservative Democrat. For example, he voted twice for George W. Bush and kept a portrait of Robert E. Lee in his office. He endorsed Trump in 2020 and joined the election-denying seditionists at the Stop the Steal rally where he announced he changed his party to Republican.

Running in the Republican Congressional primary in 2022, his opponents brought up allegations of rape that were made in 2005 by a woman who dropped the charge “out of fear.” According to her report to the police, he said he knew where she lived and he would find her. In an egregious act of police misconduct, the Dekalb County police chief whom Vernon Jones had appointed released her identity to the press with the incident report. She wrote a note saying she would not testify because of the harassment and the release of her name. She never recanted.

The woman went for medical attention and it was a nurse who called the police who came and took the woman’s statement. While she was still making her statement, Jones’ lawyer was contacting a witness suggesting the police gave Jones a heads-up. While Vernon Jones and his lawyer smeared the woman as political and attention-seeking, the police records show she was a reluctant accuser afraid of the media attention.

Several other women have filed complaints. One woman said he brandish a gun at her. Another said she was so afraid, she upgraded her home security. One woman was interviewed about flooding and she complained about lack of action. He was incensed and went to her home, raising his fists at her, telling her he knew he husband just died, all making her afraid. She filed a police report but nothing was done.

• 11Alive: Vernon Jones’ run for Congress clouded by rape allegation
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Rape claim vs. CEO unfolds in DA’s file