I-TEAM: Mayor sidesteps questions after top staffer abruptly resigns

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Mayor Sharon Weston Broome sidestepped direct questions from the WAFB I-TEAM about one of her top staffers’ choice to abruptly resign amid an investigation. Courtney Scott, the assistant chief administrative officer, recently submitted her resignation amid an ongoing investigation but questions remain unanswered about why she was being investigated and why she resigned. WAFB’s Scottie Hunter questioned the mayor shortly after she wrapped up an unrelated news conference on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Scottie: “I just wanted to ask you, when were you made aware that one of your staff members was accused of assault?”

Broome: “I was made aware that my staff member, umm, resigned earlier this month and any other issues surrounding personnel or legal matters really have to be dealt with in the parish attorney’s office.”

Scottie: “So you had heard nothing about assault?”

Broome: “As I said, all personnel and legal matters, I’m going to have to advise you to talk to the parish attorney’s office. This individual I believe you’re talking about has resigned.”

Scott is under investigation right now. It’s unclear why or when the investigation was launched but the I-TEAM was able to confirm through a source that Scott is accused of hitting community activist Walter “Geno” McLaughlin in the head with a chair after the two got into a disagreement last month. Emails obtained by the WAFB I-TEAM show the mayor’s office was peppered with complaints about the alleged attack. Through our public records request, the WAFB I-TEAM was also able to see the mayor forwarded one of those complaints to her chief administrative officer on June 20, 2024. The WAFB I-TEAM has been asking questions about the alleged incident for weeks now but the mayor’s office would not say anything about it until this week when a spokesman said Scott had resigned. The parish attorney’s office did not respond when WAFB reached out for answers.

Scottie: “Yeah, we reached out to the parish attorney’s office, they did not get back to us.”

Broome: “Yeah, well, I think you should pursue them.. pursue reaching out to them.”

Scottie: “But as the leader of the parish do you feel like you should say something?”

Broome: “As the leader of the parish, I think that all personnel matters- and I have to go along with what our legal restrictions are- should be handled… and I’m always advised by the parish attorney’s office.. Thank you.”

At this point, neither the mayor’s office nor the parish attorney’s office will say why Scott is being investigated. Officials will only say that she has stepped down.

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