FILE PHOTO Ernest Flagler-Mitchell. As legislators, we hold a position of public trust and must hold ourselves accountable, read a letter to Legislature President Joseph Carbone, which was signed by nine of the body s 14 Democrats. At a time when trust in our government is at historic lows, it is important that we operate with transparency and integrity. Therefore, we request an independent review of the facts. Flagler-Mitchell has acknowledged sending the photo to the woman, Lakaya Sinclair, in a text message in November, but has said it was a mistake and that it was intended for his wife. The photo was of a male genitalia that Flagler-Mitchell has reportedly claimed is not his.
WHECTV Created: January 18, 2021 05:52 PM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) The Democratic Caucus of the Monroe County Legislature has called for an independent investigation into Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell.
Flagler-Mitchell, a member of the Black and Asian caucus, has been accused of misconduct by Lakaya Sinclair, who says that he sent an explicit picture to her.
Flagler-Mitchell did not deny the allegations but said it was a mistake that he s taken responsibility for.
The Democratic Caucus sent the letter below to Monroe County Legislature President Joe Carbone Tuesday, claiming his ability to look at the matter is compromised:
Ernest Flagler-Mitchell
WHECTV Created: January 16, 2021 09:11 PM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) Hours after local leaders celebrated the reactivation of Rochester s NAACP chapter Saturday morning, the chapter s president and Monroe County Legislator Ernest Flagler-Mitchell acknowledged sending an explicit photo intended for my wife to an individual I was working with.
Flagler-Mitchell sent the photo to a then-19-year-old woman, who issued a statement Saturday addressed to county legislators, claiming he sexually harassed her and has reported the incident to authorities.
In her statement, LaKaya Sinclair says she first met Flagler-Mitchell after the Pennsylvania Avenue mass shooting in Sept. 2020. I am asking for his resignation so that he does not continue to use his seat and abuse his power and am asking this body to formally investigate this matter, Sinclair said. Read her statement in its entirety below.