Commissioner Tommy Hunter to be publicly reprimanded for 'racist pig' comment

Image 1 of 5

Gwinnett County Commissioner Tommy Hunter will be publicly reprimanded for calling U.S. Representative John Lewis a "racist pig" on Facebook.

App users: View full article here

The decision for the reprimand became known at a Gwinnett County Commissioners' meeting where the public was allowed to express their concerns about Hunter's post.

%INLINE%

Seth Weathers, the spokesman for Hunter, released the following statement in response to the decision:

"We now know that mob rule controls the Gwinnett County Commission Board. Charlotte Nash led her fellow board members in the public burning of the Constitution this evening. People are used to politicians caving to political correctness but tonight it reached a new level. Spineless politicians do spineless things. Where is the public reprimand for Charlotte Hall Nash, John Heard, Jace Brooks, and Lynette Howard for their public disregard for the US Constitution? Speaking of, where do I file the ethics complaint to get the process started?"

READ: Gwinnett commissioner won't resign after 'racist' Facebook comments

The reprimand will follow the recommendation of the Gwinnett County's ethics board, who voted earlier in June to sustain the complaint against Hunter.

The details of the reprimand are not currently known. The public reprimand will involve posting a written rebuke on the county's website, on the wall of the courthouse, and in the local newspaper.

MORE: Commissioner Tommy Hunter appears in court after calling John Lewis a 'racist pig'

Nancy Turner filed the complaint against Hunter in February.

Hunter apologized for the comments in January, but said he would not resign. Commissioner Tommy Hunter later sent his full remarks to FOX 5 News reading:

“Many of you are here in response to my personal Facebook comments that were shared in the media over the last 24 hours.  I understand emotions are high and many are upset about the post.  I apologize for the choice of words I made about Congressman John Lewis.  John Lewis as a leader of the civil rights movement is to be commended and emulated.  That doesn’t mean that I will always agree with him politically.  I will not allow baseless accusations of racism against me or anyone to keep people from speaking up when something is wrong. I have learned a lot from this and will continue to work hard to serve all of District 3 and the people of Gwinnett County.”

RELATED: War of words between Atlanta mayor, Gwinnett County commissioner

Dozens of Gwinnett County residents spoke out in January's Gwinnett County Commission meeting, demanding Commissioner Tommy Hunter resign.

READ: Residents demand commissioner resign after calling John Lewis 'racist pig'