During the weekly work session of the Mobile City Council, Council President C.J. Small, William Carroll and Cory Penn issued an ultimatum to halt the entire agenda until an investigation into allegations made against the administration by Paul Prine was approved. Councilman Ben Reynolds voiced his concerns about supporting a vote on the investigation until he had discussed crucial details such as its scope.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson informed the council that two independent investigations had already been carried out in response to Prine’s allegations. These investigations were conducted by Burr-Foreman Law Firm and Mobile’s Office of Professional Responsibility, with their reports and supporting materials submitted to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office for review. The Attorney General, Stimpson emphasized, holds the highest investigative authority in Alabama.

Stimpson argued against hiring another firm for investigation, stating that it would only prolong the process. Councilman William Carroll raised concerns about the “in-house” investigations conducted by the administration, suggesting that there was no insight into what was or wasn’t investigated. Carroll, along with Small and Penn, maintained that an independent investigation outside of the administration’s control was necessary for transparency and accountability.