The Clayton County commissioner who claimed she was slipped the date rape drug while at a live music event refused calls for her to resign on Tuesday, even after local police, a urinalysis test, and video recorded by the venue all seemed to contradict her story.
Clayton County Commissioner Felicia Franklin, who is running to become the board’s chairman, said during a commission meeting on Tuesday that she would only “resign as the District 3 commissioner” when she is “elected as Chairwoman of the Board of Commission,” according to WSB-TV.
Franklin drew headlines after she lost consciousness and required medical assistance at the 404 Sports Bar & Grill in Morrow, Georgia around the beginning of October.
She claimed her drink was drugged after an incident that involved an off-duty police officer discovering Franklin unconscious. She reportedly “vomited a clear, green liquid,” then became “combative” and refused to “let EMS evaluate her” upon their arrival, and ultimately attempted “to hit the lead paramedic in the face” and became “verbally abusive” as she was transported to a hospital. Police said Franklin needed to be restrained during the ambulance ride, but she has claimed to have no recollection of the night.
Videos of Franklin at the event were retrieved from the establishment and police body cameras, and video has surfaced that appears to show Franklin becoming combative and appearing to fight with emergency medical services when entering an ambulance. WSB-TV reported that police found no evidence her drinks were spiked with GHB, the date rape drug, or any other substance.
After the incident, Franklin posted a public statement to social media promising she would work “closely with authorities” to find the person who allegedly spiked her drink. She would use her government position to push “for improved safety measures at events like these.”
Morrow Police Sgt. Scott Steward promised the department was investigating “any criminal aspects that happened” involving Franklin but told Fox 5 Atlanta that investigators “found no evidence to support that she was in fact drugged with GHB.”
Instead, Steward said he subpoenaed the hospital where Franklin received treatment and learned she refused blood work at the facility. However, he said a urinalysis was completed, and it did not indicate GHB, but rather showed she had cannabinoids, which the National Institutes of Health explains “are a group of substances found in the cannabis plant,” in her system.
Additionally, Steward told the outlet Franklin had between three and four drinks, “then a swig of beer.” Describing the bar receipt, he told WSB-TV one “nine-ounce pour” of wine was ordered, and that outlet reported that video seems to show Franklin consumed five drinks. Steward added that footage showed no one but Franklin touched her drinks after they were delivered by the establishment’s staff.
Franklin has maintained she was slipped a drug while at the establishment, and surrogates have pointed to the presence of cannabinoids in the urinalysis as evidence of wrongdoing.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Georgia Star News and a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Felicia Franklin” by WSB-TV.
