A North Carolina grand jury has indicted a Charlotte City Council member on federal charges after prosecutors allege she used COVID relief funds to throw a $15,000 birthday party. Tiawana Brown,

At a press conference about the indictment, Brown told reporters the charges are politically motivated and said she won’t resign from City Council. “Why would I resign? I haven’t been convicted of anything. I was elected for the people, by the people. The people would have to remove me out of the seat,” the District 3 Democrat said.

Charlotte City Councilmember Tiawana Brown was arrested after being accused of falsely obtaining COVID-19 relief funds