Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, a self-proclaimed independent with progressive leanings, is now facing serious scrutiny after being named in court testimony as a key figure in what prosecutors say was a staged hate crime hoax.
The incident traces back to 2023, when local activist and political agitator Jesse “James” Bernard claimed he was the victim of a racist hate crime. His story quickly unraveled. Bernard has since been convicted on charges related to the hoax — but now attention is turning to the man who helped amplify that lie: the mayor himself, The Daily Wire reported.
According to court records, Bernard’s wife, Jessica Bernard, testified that Mobolade encouraged her husband to go public with the fabricated story in the run-up to his mayoral campaign. The implication? That stoking racial division might be politically useful.
Mobolade — who once served as Colorado Springs’ small business development director — publicly promoted the hoax, even writing a letter of support for Bernard during the legal process. That letter, which is now being viewed in a much different light, raised eyebrows among prosecutors and citizens alike. They’re now asking why a sitting mayor would advocate for a man who staged a hate crime to gain sympathy and attention.
While Mobolade has not been charged, the mere fact that a sitting mayor’s name is being dragged into a criminal hate hoax should be deeply troubling to residents of Colorado Springs — and to anyone who cares about truth and justice.
This isn’t just about one bad actor. It’s about a disturbing pattern we’ve seen nationally — where race-based hoaxes are used as political weapons, cheapening real injustices and dividing Americans. What’s worse, when these lies get exposed, they rarely come with real consequences for the enablers in power.
Mayor Mobolade may call himself an independent, but his actions here tell a much different story. The people of Colorado Springs deserve answers — and accountability.
