Who is the Durham City Council member accused of extorting a developer?
The Durham City Council learned Thursday that council member Monique Holsey-Hyman is being investigated after a developer reported an extortion attempt.
Mayor Elaine O’Neal informed the council at a work session but didn’t include Holsey-Hyman’s name in the statement she read by City Attorney Kimberly Rehberg.
Another council member identified Holsey-Hyman as the council member under investigation.
On Monday, the State Bureau of Investigation said it would investigate the allegation of extortion after a request came from Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry.
Here’s what we know about Holsey-Hyman and the investigation.
READ MORE: Shouting breaks out after revelation of investigation into sitting Durham City Council member
Who is Monique Holsey-Hyman?
Holsey-Hyman is from the South Bronx, New York, and moved to Durham in 2006.
She was unanimously appointed in May when Charlie Reece resigned to move abroad.
“For the past 10 months, I have been a servant leader,” Holsey-Hyman said Thursday. “I have been a colleague to my staff, to my City Council. I have actively listened and advocated and placed the residents of Durham at the forefront of all my decisions.”
She said she plans to continue her service. She is up for election this year. The filing period begins in July.
READ MORE: City Council to vote on censuring Monique Holsey-Hyman. Read the text of the resolution.
After earning her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University, she earned a doctorate of education, administration and leadership from Walden University in Baltimore.
She teaches social work classes at N.C. Central University and Walden University and is on the board of the Durham County Department of Social Services. She is a licensed social worker.
“I volunteer and advocate for those who have a voice but are often silent because no one is fighting for their rights,” she said in her application for Durham City Council.
What is Durham City Council member accused of?
According to O’Neal’s statement, “A property developer reported to city staff that a sitting City Council member had suggested to the developer that support will be given for the developer’s project in exchange for a contribution to the council member’s election campaign.”
Holsey-Hyman also is accused of using city staffers for campaign work, which she denies.
In a statement, Holsey-Hyman said the accusation around involving city staff in campaign work centers on three matters:
- A September incident in which she asked a city staffer to research PACs and other matters deemed campaign related.
- A January conversation with a city staffer about working on her campaign should she run for re-election this year.
- A March incident in which that staffer sent an invite to a non-work event during work hours.
“The incident to my knowledge was addressed with the staff member, her supervisor and myself,” Holsey-Hyman said of the first matter.
Regarding the second incident, Holsey-Hyman said the staffer volunteered and was granted permission by HR. She said the staffer signed a statement taking responsibility for the March incident.
She did not respond to the extortion accusation.
What does the Durham City Council say?
Council members agreed the accusations were “incredibly disturbing” and “may constitute criminal activity,” O’Neal said in the statement.
Council member Jillian Johnson introduced a censure resolution that will be voted upon April 3.
“This crosses the line for me into an actual ethical violation that is documented and needs to be responded to,” Johnson said.
This story was originally published March 23, 2023 at 4:27 PM.
