Warren Mayor Jim Fouts Claims He Has Received Death Threats

MACOMB COUNTY, MI — Warren Mayor Jim Fouts announced on his Facebook page that he has received death threats in the wake of the release of offensive audiotape recordings that have been attributed to him.

In a Jan. 19 Facebook post, Fouts shared "I fully expect that they (Hackel & Company) will continue to manufacture more tapes. I've been told this will not end until my death (I have recently had death threats) or resignation."

The tapes in question have not been independently verified. In the recordings, a voice that critics purport "sounds" like Fouts is heard making a series of racially offensive remarks, including "Blacks do look like chimpanzees ..." The voice also is heard launching into a tirade against older women, saying "after a certain age they're all dried up, washed up ..." The voice has not been confirmed as Fouts'. Additionally, the person who released the tapes and accused Fouts of making the comments has not identified himself or herself. However, Fouts' Facebook post suggests he feels that Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel is behind it. Fouts and Hackel have been embroiled in an escalating feud surrounding the Freedom Hill landfill in Sterling Heights. Fouts alleges Hackel and his cronies were involved in both the alleged illegal dumping and cover-up at the site. Hackel has dismissed these claims.

While the release of the tapes has sparked some officials to call for Fouts' resignation, that isn't happening according to Fouts. He shared on Facebook that he is vowing to continue dedicating himself to the people of Warren by serving as their mayor. Below please find the full text of Fouts' Jan. 19 Facebook post:

Regarding the piling on of nasty tapes. I fully expect that they(Hackel & Company) will continue to manufacture more tapes. I've been told this will not end until my death (I have recently had death threats) or resignation. Preferably the first one. If they can make 2 tapes they can make dozens. All or most of the elected officials are joining in the chorus as well. Despite the fact that many of them got elected because I endorsed them. It's safe for them and I understand that. In politics you have no friends. Harry Truman said if you want a friend in politics get a dog. No profiles in courage here just piling on. I will continue to do my job and be at work every day. I am working with some people that are investigating this. I'm heartened by the fact that the people who elected me and who I owe allegiance to are still supporting me. Last night I returned calls until almost 10 PM. Everyone I called was in support of me. However, there were a few from outside the city that were not. Also, I returned calls from several African Americans who supported me and did not buy the assertion that I was anti-African American. Bottom line is that everyone said that my actions as mayor and as a councilman speak louder than these nasty phony tapes. Bottom line is my actions as Mayor speak louder than anything they will try to do to me. People know me by my actions and personal encounters that I could not do these things.

Photo via Mayor Jim Fouts' Facebook page