CT city’s GOP council leader under fire for profane, offensive Facebook posts – Hartford Courant

Leaders are scheduled to decide next month whether to throw the city council’s top Republican out of office after he put up profanity-laden Facebook posts implying that “bullying and intimidation” by the Democratic administration caused another alderman’s death. Impassioned New Britain residents argued both from sides at a recent council meeting, with some calling for leniency for Common Council Minority Leader Robert Smedley while others demanded punishment. Smedley, who had posted under the name Colin Rober, attributed his posts to stress as well as being in grief at the unexpected death on Feb. 3 of Jerrell Hargraves, 36, a fellow Republican alderman. When the council convened, Smedley read a letter that he described as an apology, but never explained his rationale for the posts nor disavowed the insinuations. In a party-line vote Wednesday, the council agreed it will schedule a hearing before mid-March and decide whether Smedley should face punishment up to the maximum level possible, removal from office. The charter doesn’t give much leeway, though, as it offers no option for suspension; the council can remove him from office under certain circumstances, but otherwise appears empowered to do no more than issue a censure. The controversy appeared to be
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