‘Trespassing’ Georgia mayor Khalid Kamau no stranger to controversy with fights over TikTok, egg hunt, more

The Georgia mayor arrested for trespassing at a lake house and confronting the startled homeowner has been at the center of controversies in the city of South Fulton since his inauguration last year.

Mayor Khalid Kamau, who was charged with trespassing and burglary on Saturday, has spent his entire time in office fighting with fellow city officials, each accusing the other of corruption.

During his inauguration speech in January 2022, the mayor was accused of blindsiding his coworkers when he immediately called on the city manager, clerk and attorney to resign, something city council members agreed was beyond his power.

The tension escalated further when Kamau was accused of misusing his city credit card to pay for a TikTok dance video to celebrate South Fulton’s fifth anniversary on April 2022.

The mayor had used the city funds to pay for the dancers and their tuxedos, something Kamau claimed cost less than $1,000 and was approved by his team, Atlanta News First reported.

“I don’t think it was improper,” Kamau told the local outlet. ”All of my expenses are reviewed by multiple people.”

While the mayor claimed to be clear of fault, blaming staff members for not submitting the paperwork in time, he still agreed to reimburse the city.

Three months later, it was Kamau’s turn to point the finger at city council members, calling on the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to probe the officials who he accused of perpetuating a culture of corruption in South Fulton.

He accused city leaders of being far too lenient with a South Fulton officer accused of mishandling confiscated funds and having a relationship with a subordinate.

“After she confessed to all of these things, she was not fired. She was placed on administrative leave and allowed to resign,” Kamau told WSB-TV.

The city council put out a statement saying the case was still under investigation and that Kamau had no right to voice his opinion as fact when addressing the public about an internal probe.

In response to the allegations against them, the city council passed a unanimous vote of “no confidence” in Kamau.

Councilwoman Helen Willis, one of the officials Kamau called on the GBI to probe, said in a statement at the time: “Kamau’s latest unprovoked attack on her is consistent with his demeanor of voided leadership. The City of South Fulton deserves so much more than a person who will create and molest matters in an attempt to create issues where there simply is none.” 

In response to the council’s move, Kamau threatened to sue them, however, a Fulton County Superior Court dismissed the suit.

US Rep. Roger Bruce, a Democrat who oversees South Fulton, said he has grown frustrated by city leaders, as he alleged that their infighting has led to poor leadership and a lack of action against other problems.

Amid their squabble, the city was hit by a federal lawsuit regarding top police Lt. Shannon McKesey, who resigned in 2022 after being accused of drinking on the job, mishandling evidence and creating a hostile work environment.

McKesey and Police Chief Keith Meadows were also accused of retaliating against those who spoke out about their alleged corruption.

“I do see the city somewhat as my child and I worked for 10 years trying to put this together,” Bruce told ANF earlier this year. “So I have no qualms with saying if you don’t fix it, then I will.”

Despite the warning, Kamau and city leaders continued to squabble, with the latest blow against residents coming in the form of a canceled Easter egg hunt.

Just as the annual tradition was underway, South Fulton Police shut down the festivities, accusing the mayor of “not following the appropriate approvals through the City of South Fulton’s special event process.”

Event organizer Torrey Tomlinson told WSB-TV that he had never seen such a thing in his history of putting the egg hunt together.

“It is about power. It is about control. I am frustrated,” Tomlinson said. I have been going through for a very long time with the city. I never go to social media, I never go on the news, but right now I feel like I am being bullied.”

Now the city faces more fuel to the fire following Kamau’s arrest on Saturday, when he was busted breaking into a lake house he coveted and confronting the frightened homeowner while snarling, “Do you know who the f–k I am?,” police and the victim say.

The mayor was charged with criminal trespass and first-degree burglary and was booked in the Fulton County Jail on $11,000 bond before being released.