Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “Three days after Christmas in 2004, Vernon Jones invited two women to his home for a casual party. Jones promised roasted marshmallows, drinks and dancing, and a viewing of ‘Finding Nemo.’ He called it a sleepover. By morning, Jones would later say, he had engaged in consensual sex with the women. One of them, however, told a different story: She said Jones raped her. Jones had just won a second term as DeKalb County’s top elected official, chief executive officer. It was years before the #MeToo movement forced a reexamination of how powerful men treat women, and Jones avoided both political ramifications and criminal prosecution when his accuser said pressing charges would cause her too much emotional distress.”

“Now, 16 years later, the episode complicates Jones’ recently announced candidacy for governor of Georgia. A Democrat until January, Jones is running as a Republican with the blessing, if not the formal endorsement, of former President Donald Trump. Like Trump, however, Jones has a long history of problematic behavior toward women, repeatedly accused of threatening, intimidating and harassing women in his personal and professional lives, an examination of his record by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution shows. The Journal-Constitution reviewed civil and criminal complaints filed against Jones and interviewed more than a dozen elected officials, activists and lawyers who have clashed with him. This examination found numerous previously unreported details about Jones’ conduct toward women spanning more than three decades. One woman accused Jones of threatening her with a gun in her home. Another, a DeKalb County commissioner, said he purposely bumped into her after a contentious public meeting. A community activist was so unnerved by an encounter with Jones that she upgraded her home security. “Vernon is a bully,” said Jan Selman, a longtime arts advocate who has tangled with Jones for more than 20 years. ‘He has issues with women – and he has issues with strong women, particularly.'”