Michigan lawmaker who spent $221 of his campaign funds at a strip club claims he was there for a constituent meeting and insists they do 'great lamb chops'
A Michigan state representative has defended spending $221 in campaign funds at a Detroit-area strip club, insisting that he was there to meet his constituents - and that they have 'great lamb chops'.
Jewell Jones, a Democrat representing the Detroit suburb of Inkster, made headlines in 2017 for being the youngest person ever elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, at the age of 21.
Yet on Monday he was in the news for his campaign finance report.
Jones, 25, reported spending $221 of his campaign money at a strip club in Dearborn for a March 8 'constituent meeting' to discuss 'potential economic projects,' according to a disclosure filed on Sunday.
Jewell Jones, 25, was elected to the Michigan House in 2017, age 21, representing Inkster. On Sunday he filed his campaign finance report, showing expenses at a strip club
Pantheion Club in Dearborn - which describes itself on Twitter as 'the oldest and most established gentlemen's club in Michigan'
Jones' receipt for his 'constituent meeting to discuss potential economic projects' at the strip club
He told Detroit News that the Pantheion Club, the venue of the meeting, was a 'lounge' and said he was not sure if it was a strip club - before the phone call to the reporter was disconnected.
Jones then texted the reporter, and said: 'We have (to) meet people where they're at some times ... #HOLLA.'
He added that the club had 'great lamb chops.'
Jones also claimed $6,400 in meals for the first months of 2021, including $696 on one meal in Las Vegas on March 22.
It is not the first time that Jones' behavior has raised eyebrows.
He was arrested on April 6 after he drunkenly crashed his black Chevy Tahoe, with a personalized license plate that read 'elected.'
Jones is seen on April 6 after his arrest for DUI, resisting arrest and weapons possession
Jones was tackled, restrained, stunned twice with a Taser, sprayed in the face with pepper spray and arrested on April 6
Jones was tackled, restrained, stunned twice with a taser, sprayed in the face with pepper spray and arrested along Interstate 96 in Livingston County's Handy Township.
According to the police report he was driving erratically and eventually turned on his hazard lights and pulled to the shoulder of the highway, where his SUV stopped for several minutes before rolling into a ditch.
He was charged with four counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer, operating a vehicle with a high blood alcohol content and operating while intoxicated, reckless driving, and possession of a weapon while under the influence of alcohol.
Dashcam footage of Jones' arrest revealed the moment paramedics were loading an intoxicated female passenger into an ambulance while Jones spoke with emergency response workers and deputies.
Arriving on the scene, police found the pair of them partially clothed.
Jones' blood alcohol level was double the legal limit.
The police report also said Jones had interfered with emergency crews as they were securing the intoxicated woman in the ambulance.
Jones, whose blood alcohol level was double the legal limit on April 6, is seen with the effects from the pepper spray used during arrest
'I'm not going to do nothing crazy, bro,' Jones can be heard telling an officer after he was told to relax. He also name dropped Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
'I'll call Governor Whitmer right now,' he said, and flashed a 'gold badge' while telling troopers he was an 'off-duty police officer.'
Jones, 25, has defended his strip club visit
Jones was serving as an auxiliary, or reserve, police - not the same as off-duty police officers. They only retain their police authority while on duty supporting sworn officers.
'Don't do something stupid,' the officer replied.
After Jones insists on following the ambulance to the hospital, the officer repeats that he wants to see Jones' driver's license and identification.
Jones declined to provide that information and was wrestled to the ground by two officers.
He was suspended from Inkster's auxiliary police in response to the arrest.
No comments