On an early morning this weekend, WXYZ-TV's Ross Jones found former Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh leaving his new job as a waiter in New York. For nearly one year, Pugh has avoided explaining his sudden -- and bizarre -- departure from the city, prompted by questions from 7 Action News Investigator Ross Jones.
Last year, Pugh lavished a high school student that he mentored in his leadership program with cash, gifts, clothing and a new cell phone. But according to police, he also “continuously pressured” the 18-year-old to send him graphic, sexual videos in exchange for hundreds of dollars.
“I wanna see your body. Front and back,” Pugh wrote in a text message. “So the video has to show everything.”
“I pay MORE for solos lol. $125 for solos and $150 if u shoot the vid over here lol,” said another text message.
Jones caught up with Pugh as he left his restaurant job. He was wearing a Yankees' hat.
“Paying a student you mentored for videos of him performing sex acts,” said Jones. “Is that typical of the Charles Pugh Leadership Forum?”
“First of all, I didn’t do that,” Pugh said. But later, when confronted with his own text messages, he changed his story.
“He offered to do it, okay?” Pugh said. “He’s an adult. I did not ask him to do that.”
The interview went on, WXYZ says, for 15 blocks. Only a portion is posted tonight. It's a tease for a full report Tuesday at 6 p.m.
