MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The attorney for former top city official Robert Lipscomb said he’s unhappy with the City of Memphis.
Lipscomb resigned from his role as the Director of Housing and Community Development earlier this week after the city said they were contacted by a man who made sexual abuse allegations against him.
On Wednesday, Lipscomb was suspended with pay from his job as the Executive Director of the Memphis Housing Authority where he made just under $136,000.
“It’s highly inappropriate, highly improper,” said Attorney Ricky Wilkins.
Wilkins didn’t hold back his frustrations.
He said since Mayor A C Wharton’s Office initially reported an allegation of sexual abuse of an underage boy against his client the city hasn’t been playing by the rules.
“It’s unprecedented to see a city administration involving itself in an investigation such as this and then almost on the hour leaking information to the press,” he said.
Tuesday the city said a total of nine people have come forward claiming to be victim’s of Lipscomb’s.
They all said they were underage when abuse happened.
WREG also learned Tuesday the initial man who filed a complaint went to the Police Department five years ago but nothing came of it until now.
The mayor’s office denied having any knowledge and said the accuser was homeless at the time and hard for officers to track down.
On Wednesday, Wharton’s Chief Administrative Officer had little to say about the allegations against Lipscomb.
“I’m really not going–there are plenty of them out there and we’ll leave it at that,” said CAO Jack Sammons.
However he still expressed his disgust.
“As a government official and as a father this is sickening to me,” he said.
Wilkins said it doesn’t matter how many people come forward, Lipscomb did nothing wrong.
“I’m telling you what I told you initially, my client maintains his innocence. He maintains the fact he has no improper relationships with anybody,” he said.
No one answered the door when WREG went to Lipscomb’s home on Wednesday.
