Former Stockbridge, Georgia, Mayor Jayden Williams said he was caught off guard when the City Council removed him from office earlier this month amid allegations of misconduct.
“I didn’t expect this,” Williams told WSB-TV. “You know, maybe a censure, but definitely not a removal.”
Williams was 23 and had been mayor for less than a year when his tenure ended. He made history as Stockbridge’s youngest mayor, but his administration was derailed by questions about the use of city funds and his relationship with an 18-year-old high school student.
Jayden Williams, then-Mayor of Stockbridge, speaks onstage during Juneteenth At The Bridge With Common at VyStar Amphitheater at The Bridge on June 19, 2026, in Stockbridge, Ga. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
Asked by WSB-TV whether he should have understood that the relationship was inappropriate, Williams replied, “I would have to somewhat agree to that.”
Williams maintained that he had not violated his oath of office. “There was no violation of the oath,” he told the station. “I wasn’t even mayor yet.”
According to WSB-TV, Williams said the relationship did not involve sex.
Jayden L. Williams, then-Mayor of Stockbridge GA, speaks onstage during the 2nd Annual Ologo Golf Tournament hosted by Ne-Yo at Eagles Landing Country Club on April 6, 2026, in Stockbridge, Ga. (Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
NBC News previously reported that Williams acknowledged exchanging nude photographs with the student.
“That’s not abnormal for somebody my age,” Williams said at a City Council meeting, according to NBC News.
A police report concluded that Williams had not committed a criminal offense because Georgia law considers the student an adult.
Williams also admitted using some money for personal purchases. He told WSB-TV the funds came from the mayor’s reallocated $5,000 annual budget rather than the city’s general fund.
“It was not intentional and I paid it back immediately,” Williams said.
Jayden Williams, then-Mayor of Stockbridge attends “Da ‘Partments 2” Atlanta Screening at Atlantic Station on July 9, 2026, in Atlanta, Ga. (Prince Williams/WireImage)
He told Fox 5 that the city purchasing card closely resembled his personal card, which led to the confusion. Williams later replaced both cards to prevent a similar mistake, the outlet reported.
Williams became the youngest Black mayor elected in Georgia after launching his campaign while studying at Clark Atlanta University. He took office in January but was impeached by the Stockbridge City Council earlier this month.
