CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The city of Charlotte has hired an attorney with the Moore & Van Allen law firm to investigate allegations that a male City Council member sexually harassed a female city employee.
The city says Valecia McDowell will investigate the claim at an hourly rate of $250. The city says McDowell agreed to drop her regular rate, which is $400, for this investigation, and $250 was the lowest hourly rate given by any of the attorneys contacted.
McDowell said she hopes to complete her report in two weeks.
Click here to read the investigation agreement.
The hiring of an investigator was voted on Wednesday at a council meeting where two members identified Warren Turner as the member who is at the center of the controversy.
It has been nearly two weeks now since Mayor Anthony Foxx send out an e-mail to all council members, cautioning them against incidents of sexual harassment, saying that kind of conduct would not be tolerated.
The Foxx e-mail did not name any names, causing some male members to complain that they were all now suspects.
The female staff member did not file a formal complaint, leading the city attorney, at one point, to say the matter was closed.
Turner, who is married and the father of one child, has not admitted any wrongdoing and has said that he and his family are going through "hell."
In District 3 Thursday, many of Turner's constituents said he deserves a chance to set the record straight.
"You are innocent until proven guilty," said resident Andrea Joplin. "So let's give the man a fair trial first."
Others agreed that hiring and outside investigator was now the best way to learn what did or did not happen.
