San Antonio councilman accused of misusing power in family dispute, ethics review pending
More is coming to light about the incident that prompted a San Antonio attorney to file an ethics complaint against District 10 City Councilman Marc Whyte.
Early last month, Whyte filed his response to that complaint, and the attorney, Martin Phipps, filed a reply of his own on June 21.
The ethics complaint filed by Phipps back in May alleges Whyte used his position to get law enforcement involved in a family law dispute involving Phipps - in violation of the city ethics code.
An independent attorney referred Phipps' complaint to the City's Ethics Review Board. Whyte responded, requesting the complaint be "dismissed without delay."
The incident at the heart of the complaint happened on the evening of April 26 when Bexar County Sheriff's Deputies and San Antonio Police Officers arrived at Phipps' home.
A police report states Phipps' ex wife called authorities alleging a juvenile at Phipps' home was possibly in jeopardy. Whyte, in a phone conversation, said Phipps' ex-wife, reached out to his wife, Lorien, who texted him about possibly needing to get the police chief involved.
Whyte, in his sworn response and to the I-Team, denied ever texting anyone from the Bexar County sheriff's office and says he showed them screenshots of a conversation relating to the juvenile.
Phipps, in his response to Whyte's filing, provided body camera video that he says proves Whyte did contact the Sheriff's Office.
Whyte's response to Phipps' ethics complaint says he was reporting suspected child abuse as a mandatory reporter under the law. The councilman also included a statement from Marta Pelaez, councilman Manny Pelaez's mother, who is also the CEO family violence prevention services. That statement alleges Phipps' complaint against Whyte is retaliatory and called it public bullying.
The City's website says the Ethics Review Board has 90 days from when Phipps filed his complaint to issue a written opinion dismissing the case, or find a violation of the ethics laws and can make recommendations on sanctions.
We'll keep you updated as it develops.
