Omaha City Council to consider removing Palermo from VP post

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The Omaha City Council on Monday added an item to its weekly meeting agenda: a resolution to remove Councilman Vinny Palermo from the office of vice president of the council.

He will be behind bars for Tuesday’s initial discussion: The councilman was among three defendants held over until Wednesday in order to give defense counsel time to prepare for cross presentation.

The revision to the agenda came after three Omaha City Councilmembers asked that a resolution be added. The position of vice president puts Palermo third in the leadership succession of the city, behind Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, and Omaha City Council President Pete Festersen, who both issued statements on Friday.

Palermo was among four people indicted last week on allegations of wire fraud and various financial schemes. The four were scheduled to make their initial appearance in federal court in Lincoln on Monday afternoon.

Councilmembers Brinker Harding, Aimee Melton, and Don Rowe made the request for the resolution; their statements appear below.

They point out that Palermo pled guilty to misdemeanors and federal tax improprieties — and was on probation for those violations when the new indictments were handed down.

Festersen told 6 News on Monday that he had already stripped Palermo of his committee assignments.

PETE FESTERSEN – 1st District

”I agree Councilman Palermo should forego his leadership position under the circumstances. I also believe he should refrain from his committee assignments and have already put that into effect as president.”

DON ROWE – 5th District

“Councilmember Palermo cannot be trusted to be in a position to make decisions that impact awarding city contracts, public safety or any expenditures of taxpayer dollars. Nor should he be able to be acting Mayor in the absence of the Mayor and Council President.”

BRINKER HARDING – 6th District

“Vinny Palermo has violated the public’s trust again. In my opinion, he should resign from the Omaha City Council. But for the limitations of Omaha’s Charter the body may not have the ability to remove him altogether. At the very least, he should not hold the position of Vice President. The pattern of his past actions and these new allegations of criminal conspiracy and public corruption is concerning.”

AIMEE MELTON – 7th District

“It concerns me as it should all of Omaha, the Vinny faces these serious charges. The citizens of District 4 and all of Omaha deserve to be represented and advocated for on all city matters. Mr. Palermo can no longer be an effective or dependable representation.”

RELATED COVERAGE

Palermo, retired police officers among 4 arrested on federal charges

Two indictments detail fraudulent use of funds intended for LPOA, PACE

Mayor calls on councilman to resign; OPD chief ‘not shocked’

The Omaha city attorney said the city's charter doesn’t call for Councilman Vinny Palermo’s ouster unless he’s convicted.

Details about the 4 men and their 41 charges

Documents allege perks funneled to Omaha Councilman Vinny Palermo; retired police officers involved in the cover-up of a sex assault investigation; and a man raising money for LPOA under an alias.

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