Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade spoke Friday to address the recent weeks of rumors surrounding his connection to an alleged hate crime hoax that took place during the 2023 election.

In a video message on his official Facebook account, Mobolade emphasized his full cooperation with the investigation into the alleged faked hate crime and condemned the “politically motivated attacks” he faced in recent weeks.

In November the Department of Justice indicted three individuals for allegedly staging a cross burning in front of a Mobolade campaign sign defaced with a racial slur during the 2023 mayoral runoff election between Mobolade and Wayne Williams. Derrick Bernard Jr., Ashley Blackcloud and Deanna West were charged with “maliciously conveying false information about a threat made by means of fire.”

“I had no knowledge, warning or involvement in this crime. I did not lie to the FBI. I voluntarily provided all requests for communication without a subpoena,” Mobolade said in his statement Friday.

Mobolade said he held off on more direct comments until now to avoid jeopardizing the prosecution in the case and limit the spread of the rumors. The mayor said he consulted with his personal attorney and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to determine what he can publicly say.

Mobolade’s opponent in the 2023 mayoral runoff, Wayne Williams, said he reached out to Mobolade earlier in the week and requested the mayor be fully transparent, but was satisfied with Friday’s announcement. 

“Right now, it’s an unattributed source,” Williams said, referencing the Daily Wire story. “And when you’ve got the mayor saying he did not lie and was truthful, that addresses it at this point, and I appreciate it.”

The indictment cites communications between Bernard and Mobolade before and after the April 23, 2023, hate crime as evidence against Bernard. On April 13, Bernard said in a Facebook message that there was a “plot amidst” for the final push of the runoff election.

The conservative news website The Daily Wire published a story on the case based on a single anonymous source who supposedly worked for the FBI. The source alleged that Mobolade lied to investigators about his communications with Bernard during two separate interviews.

Those allegations were amplified this week after Nigerian publications claimed that Mobolade had been arrested by the FBI. The claim has been refuted by the FBI and the mayor’s office and was later removed from the headline on at least one website.

Mobolade, who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 1996, said the continued false claims and politically motivated attacks had real consequences for the security of himself and others.

“My wife has fielded numerous calls from family and friends worried about our safety, including from my parents, who understandably panicked when they read headlines alleging my arrest. We have questioned our safety on more than one occasion,” Mobolade said.

The mayor also released a letter Friday that he received from the Department of Justice on Nov. 26. The letter notified Mobolade that he was a victim or potential victim of the crimes committed in the indictment.

The letter informed the mayor of his legal rights as a victim and outlined the expected timeline for the case to move to trial Jan. 21 in Denver.

“As a mayoral candidate, I promised to rise above partisan politics with a purpose to unify our city, not divide it. As your mayor, I remain committed to that endeavor,” Mobolade said.

Bernard was in prison when the indictment was issued after being convicted of murder. Blackcloud and West have been released on bond according to court records

Bernard, in recent messages to The Gazette, says he denies any involvement with the alleged vandalism and will appeal his recent murder conviction.

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Here is Mobolade’s statement Friday:

Greetings! Some of you may recall an incident during the 2023 mayoral election that left a deep and painful mark on me, my family, and our community. One of my campaign signs was defaced with a racial slur, and a burning cross was placed in front of it.

This incident has been under federal investigation. A few weeks ago, the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted three people suspected of this hate crime hoax.

Since then, false claims have circulated about my involvement and have been amplified by a small group of politically motivated individuals. The rumors have become so ridiculous, they have led to reports in Nigerian newspapers saying I was arrested by the FBI.

Because I respect the judicial process and this remains an active case, I have intentionally not engaged with gossip and falling into political rhetoric. I have also been seeking legal counsel so that I don’t unintentionally jeopardize the prosecution.

Now that I have received the guidance …  I feel that I can publicly address what has become an unfortunate and unnecessary distraction.

Unequivocally, I fully and truthfully cooperated throughout this investigation.

I had no knowledge, warning or involvement in this crime

I did not lie to the FBI.

I voluntarily provided all requests for communication without a subpoena.

And I received and will be releasing a document from the Department of Justice, that reads that I was quote “identified by law enforcement as a victim or potential victim during the investigation of the criminal case.” End quote.

It is also important for me to be clear about the communication with one of the suspects that was noted in the indictment. Like many other elected officials in our community, I only knew him as a local media personality.

I continue to appreciate local and federal law enforcement’s work in pursuing justice and sending a message that such reprehensible behavior will not be tolerated. It is important to me that the judicial process is followed to allow for a successful prosecution that brings justice to our community.

These politically motivated attacks have had far reaching consequences. It is not just about headlines or partisan points—it’s about people. These attacks have real consequences on families, individuals, and even their sense of safety and security, as my family and I have experienced.

My wife has fielded numerous calls from family and friends worried about our safety, including from my parents, who understandably panicked when they read headlines alleging my arrest. We have questioned our safety on more than one occasion.

This is not the Colorado Springs I know. We must be better. As I’ve said before and will say again, the story of Colorado Springs will be a better story. We will show the world what democracy looks like. We will be firm in our convictions while also treating each other with respect. We will be civil. We will put our city over party. People above politics. Country over ideology.  We will welcome the competition of ideas, disagreements and differences of opinion. We will not make it personal. We will attack the problem, not the person.  

As a mayoral candidate, I promised to rise above partisan politics with a purpose to unify our city, not divide it. As your mayor, I remain committed to that endeavor.

You elected me to work for you. That is what I have done, and that is what I will continue to do.

Happy holidays! May God bless you all. God bless the great city of Colorado Springs. And may God bless these United States of America.

Onward and upward.

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Colorado Politics reporter Ernest Luning contributed to this report.