Indianapolis City-County Council elects Stephen Clay as president
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Stephen Clay seemed at ease.
He chatted Monday night moments before he was scheduled to take his his seat inside the Indianapolis City-County Council chambers.
At the time, the Indianapolis councilman was vying to become president of the City-County Council. He and Council President Maggie Lewis were going head to head for the leadership position. However, last week, Clay’s campaign received some troubling news: Jonathan Bryant, a 30-year-old man and a former member of Clay’s church, accused Clay of groping him when he was a teenage boy.
Bryant said Clay asked his mother to preach a sermon at his church and, while she prepared her text, he would watch Bryant at his home. Bryant’s mother agreed. Bryant added that he played games at Clay’s house. Then Bryant added that he laid on Clay’s bed and watched TV — that is when, he said, Clay grabbed his crotch.
“He starts to grope me. It lasted about 15 to 20 seconds. He kind of let it go and let me get out of there,” Bryant said.
Bryant says he told his mentor, who told Bryant’s mother. She in turn confronted Clay, and contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services, but there wasn’t enough information to file charges against Clay.
Clay denied the allegations.
“They are untrue, they are painful, they are hurtful, but it is not surprising in the kind of climate we are operating in now days it is untrue,” Clay said.
Clay pointed to his opponent, Lewis, on the timing of the accusations and the reason they became public after more than a decade.
In an interview with 24-Hour News 8, Bryant addressed the thought that there maybe some political motives behind his public comments.
Bryant said he just wanted to get his story out to the public. “I have no affiliation with any Democrat or Republican or politician. I don’t benefit at all,” Bryant said.
Shortly after our interview with Clay, the City-County Council elected him the president. Clay received 14 votes; Lewis received 11.
After being voted president of the council, Clay added he doesn’t believe the accusations will be a distraction to him, or those who voted for him.
“What we saw today is what happens when Democrats and Republicans work together for the common good, and I’m grateful for the privilege,” Clay said.