Memphis Politician Filed 'Sovereign Citizen' Papers in Attempt to Prevent Home Foreclosure
A candidate running for county commissioner in Memphis laid down a bold public challenge shortly before winning this month’s Democratic primary election.
“I challenge anyone to review my track record,” Eddie Jones said in the 2014 Voter Guide published by the Commercial Appeal.
Since the 55-year-old Jones walked away with four out of every 10 votes in the primary and will be unopposed in the September general election, the newspaper took him up on that challenge.
Yesterday came this bombshell: Jones was fired as a Memphis Police officer for drug use 18 years ago and recently filed extremist sovereign citizen movement papers while trying to keep a bank from foreclosing on his home.
In response, Jones told the newspaper that, yes, he had troubles years ago but his life is much different now.
Jones also claimed that despite his bogus, do-it-yourself legal filings – one of the hallmarks of the sovereign citizen movement – he is not himself part of that movement, which is a loose collection of extremists who generally believe they are above the law and do not recognize the authority of federal and state governments.
“I'm kind of glad all of this is out there,” Jones said when reporters started asking questions.
The newspaper reported that Jones was the clear winner in the May 6 Democratic primary for the District 11 seat on the Shelby County Commission, with 39.2 percent of the vote, and is expected to take office after the September general election. The next closest Democratic candidate in the primary was Claude Talford, who collected 22.3 percent of the vote.
The district is heavily Democratic and there is no Republican on the ballot. The newspaper quoted election officials as saying even a write-in candidate couldn't beat him because, by law, any such candidate would have to have been certified 50 days before the primaries.
“Let's get this out of the way,” Jones told the Memphis newspaper. “What happened in my past, it happened. I won't deny that. I won't make up any excuses for it. But that's not a part of my life anymore.''
When the newspaper published its voter guide in April, Jones said: “In serving the community, responding to the community and listening to the community gives me the knowledge of my community. I challenge anyone to review my track record. I stand behind my campaign platform of integrity, honesty and proven leadership. My ethical behavior will warrant the trust of my constituents.”
He did not mention being fired as a police officer for drug use or his recent use of legal papers associated with sovereign citizens.
The newspaper reported that it obtained records from the Memphis Police Department showing Jones – a 14-year veteran – was terminated in 1996 for drug use. After being given a second chance after initially testing positive for cocaine use in 1994, he tested positive a second time in 1995, and he was terminated.
Jones claimed he had been “rehabilitated,” the newspaper said, but the city’s civil service commission upheld his dismissal because of the city’s zero-tolerance drug policy.
The city rehired Jones about seven years ago as a supervisor in the code enforcement unit. He is active in his church, education initiatives and community activism, he told the newspaper.
“I've devoted my life to serving others, helping people ... and that's who I am,” the newspaper reported.
Recently, Jones has battled with First Horizon Home Loans over a home the lender has attempted to foreclose on three times since 2009.
“In response, Jones sued in federal court and filed a series of papers with the Shelby County Register's Office that are filled with language often used by sovereign citizens,” the newspaper reported.
Jones called himself “a living man created in the image of God, with indefeasible title to our land,” ordering the banks agents “to immediately CEASE and DESIST any further actions.”
Jones told the Memphis paper that he “filed his paperwork after receiving advice from friends, but said he has no connection to the movement.”
“Absolutely no. I'm not a sovereign citizen. I've never tried to be a part of that organization,” Jones said.
Jones said his differences with the bank started when he stopped payment on his mortgage to protest changes on where to send them. He's owned his home since 1987 and said he has just three years left on his mortgage.
Despite pending litigation, Jones said he's recently been talking with bank officials in order to settle their differences. “We're sitting down and working this out,” he told the newspaper.
