The city of Temecula, California has found itself without an official mayor after a scandal broke out in the California city. According to reports, an email surfaced that showed former writing that he didn’t “believe there’s ever been a good person of color killed by a police officer.” In these emotionally-heightened times, the controversy was met with backlash from the public who called for his resignation. He complied and stepped down from his position in the Southern Californian city, but not before he stated that it was all a misunderstanding due to a “typo.”

According to a report by ABC News, James Stewart issued a formal apology for the email, but also said that he’s dyslexic and never meant to type the word “good.” Stewart also said that he used voice-to-text in order to pen the email, and he didn’t look to see if there were any mistakes. 

“Unfortunately I did not take the time to proofread what was recorded. I absolutely did not say that,” Stewart told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. He claimed that he was responding to an within the police force. “What I said is I don’t believe there has ever been a person of color murdered by police, on context to Temecula or Riverside County. I absolutely did not say ‘good.’ I have no idea how that popped up.”

“You have every right to be hurt and offended. My typos and off-the-cuff response to an email on a serious topic added pain at a time where our community, and our country, is suffering,” Stewart later penned in a statement. “, but I am not racist.” He added in his email that racism isn’t tolerated in Temecula and that he has many Black friends who live in the city because it’s a safe town.

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