More than a dozen Black faith leaders stood in front of District Attorney Coty Wamp’s office Monday to protest the “unjust and politically motivated” indictment of former Chattanooga Police Chief Celeste Murphy, even though Wamp is not the one prosecuting Murphy.
Wamp stood in the same spot immediately after and called the appearance race-baiting.
“These allegations are just that — allegations,” the Rev. Ernest Reid of Second Missionary Baptist Church said at a news conference. “In our legal system, one is innocent until proven guilty. This attempt to discredit an African American woman in leadership reeks of petty partisan politics with dangerous outcomes if applied uniformly.”
Murphy last week was indicted on 17 criminal charges, including perjury, official misconduct, illegal voter registration and falsely filling out official documents. She turned herself in Thursday at the Hamilton County Jail, a day after resigning. She was released on bond.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported in March that Murphy’s Tennessee voter registration conflicted with a property tax exemption Murphy receives in Fulton County, Georgia, by claiming a home there as her primary residence. Both documents were signed under penalty of perjury.