Georgia’s youngest elected mayor has been removed from office only 10 months after taking the position, following allegations that he misused public funds and exchanged sexually suggestive messages and images with an 18-year-old high school student.
Jayden Williams, who recently turned 23, was impeached by the Stockbridge City Council after becoming mayor of the Atlanta-area city in January.
“The City of Stockbridge confirms that the City Council has taken formal action concerning the Office of Mayor,” the city said in a statement Sunday. “The Mayor has been removed from office.”
According to Fox 5 Atlanta, Williams allegedly charged more than $4,000 in personal expenses to his city purchasing card, including restaurant bills, clothing, haircuts and a movie. He was also accused of spending $2,600 on gasoline and using a city vehicle for personal activities.
MASSACHUSETTS MAYOR CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD IN $1.5M COVID RELIEF SCHEME
Jayden L. Williams, 23, was removed from office on Sept. 12, 2026. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
The questionable transactions came to light after city employees noticed unusual activity involving public money and promptly alerted management and the city’s legal department.
During testimony, Williams said he had not intended to spend city funds and had reimbursed the money, Fox 5 reported. He also said the city-issued purchasing card looked similar to his personal card. According to the outlet, Williams said he replaced both cards afterward to prevent another mix-up.
Mayor Jayden Williams appears at a public investigative hearing on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (City of Stockbridge Government/Facebook)
In a separate matter, Williams faced allegations that he exchanged sexually suggestive messages and explicit images with an 18-year-old male high school student.
A police report said Williams did not violate criminal law because the student was legally an adult under Georgia law. Police nevertheless referred the matter for administrative review, citing possible policy and ethical issues involving an elected official’s contact with a student in what investigators described as a city-affiliated mentorship program, Fox 5 reported.
Williams previously disputed that characterization, saying he met the individual before taking office and that the student had never taken part in Stockbridge’s “Mayor for a Day” program. Williams also said the initiative was not a mentorship program.
EX-MAYOR FOUND LIABLE FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULTS OF 7 WOMEN, ORDERED TO PAY $13M
“The individual was 18 years old at the time of our communication, meaning we were both adults. I met this individual on November 30, 2025, and our online communication occurred before I was sworn into office in January 2026,” Williams said.
Williams made history as Georgia’s youngest mayor after launching his campaign while he was still a student at Clark Atlanta University.
Jayden Williams engaged in sexually suggestive conversations with an 18-year-old who asked to be Williams’ mentee. (City of Stockbridge Government/Facebook)
He was subsequently stripped of certain official privileges on July 17 as the investigation unfolded but was never criminally charged in connection with the alleged conduct.
