A Michigan city councilor facing multiple felony assault and domestic violence charges has returned to his council seat, insisting he will not resign despite public outcry and ongoing investigations.
Leon El-Alamin, 45, was arrested in July after authorities said he brutally choked his live-in girlfriend during an altercation, leaving visible facial and neck injuries.
El-Alamin, a Democrat representing Flint’s First Ward, attended his first council meeting since the July 15 arrest while wearing a court-ordered GPS monitor.
Despite calls for him to step down, the council voted 3-2 on Sept. 3 against a resolution that would have voluntarily suspended him through the duration of court proceedings.
“I want to assure you I take your feedback seriously,” El-Alamin said during brief remarks at the meeting. “I may not have been inside the chambers recently, but I have continued to serve the residents of Ward 1, and I am determined to do so as I continue to finish my term.”
Residents expressed outrage at his return, including the mother of the alleged victim.
“Leon El-Alamin is really a demon from hell,” she told the council, according to ABC12, per The Post Millennial. “Until you’re off this pedestal, you’re going to see my face every time.”
The Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office reported that El-Alamin was not present when police first responded to the July 10 domestic violence complaint, which revealed facial lacerations and neck marks consistent with strangulation.
Prosecutor David Leyton said a gun was also found inside the home. El-Alamin is scheduled for a preliminary examination in Genesee District Court on Sept. 23.
Beyond the criminal charges, activists have raised questions about El-Alamin’s residency.
They allege he committed felony residency fraud to qualify for office in 2024, claiming he does not live in Ward 1 but instead used the East Mott Avenue address of his nonprofit, the Money, Attitude, Direction and Education (MADE) Institute, when filing his candidacy.
State authorities are reviewing mail addressed to him at a West Sherman Avenue residence—the same location of the July domestic violence incident—as well as a notarized affidavit from the alleged victim stating they lived together there, MLive reports.
El-Alamin has rejected the accusations, maintaining he resides in the First Ward.
“My commitment to our community and the people I serve remains unwavering,” he said in a statement. “I encourage anyone with concerns to reach out to me directly for dialogue.”
His history includes convictions for drug and weapons offenses dating back to his teenage years.
He served part of a 12-to-20-year sentence before being released and later had his record expunged under Michigan’s 2021 Clean Slate Act, as highlighted by Fox News.
He went on to found the MADE Institute, a nonprofit aimed at mentoring youth, and has been photographed with prominent Democratic leaders including New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker (D) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D).
Voters elected El-Alamin in a November special election to fill the seat of the late city council member Eric Mays.
His return to office while facing felony charges and residency questions has fueled criticism from residents and activists alike, but he has vowed to continue serving while defending himself in court.
