Council takes no action to remove embattled Fall River mayor at special meeting

FALL RIVER, Mass. — A special session of the Fall River City Council ended Tuesday night without any action on removing Mayor Jasiel Correia from office but the heated debate capped a day of high drama in the city.

It was just hours after Correia, 26, defiantly disputed federal prosecutors' case against him, saying he would not resign at a City Hall news conference. He has pleaded not guilty to a 13-count indictment charging him with defrauding investors in an app he created and with filing false tax returns.

"This is America, and I am presumed innocent until proven otherwise," the Democrat said, standing in front of an American flag. "I will not allow political enemies to remove me from office for their own selfish agendas." He has maintained that he has done nothing wrong.

>> 'I've done nothing wrong': Fall River mayor arrested for defrauding investors

That night, city councilors debated voting to force him to temporarily step aside, using a provision that allows them to remove a mayor if they are unable to perform the duties of the office.

“We as a community do not need to turn on one of our own," said City Councilor Steven Camara, one of two councilors who objected to a motion to remove him, arguing the voters should decide.

MORE: Embattled Fall River mayor facing federal charges says he's '100% innocent'

Other councilors were more than ready to take action. "The city of Fall River has had enough,” said City Councilor Stephen Long.

While some had hoped Correia would resign on his own, he made clear at his campaign-style press conference that the voters of Fall River would have to recall him if they wanted him out of office. And his legal team said they'd challenge the Council in court if it voted to remove him. The issue will be revisited at the next City Council meeting scheduled for Oct. 23.

A resident who spoke at the meeting said that she plans to start the process to recall Correia, something the city has done before. Less than four years ago voters recalled Mayor William Flanagan by nearly 70 percent, ousting him from office.

Cox Media Group