Jimmie Gardner, the brother-in-law of two-time failed Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, was arrested on human trafficking and battery charges for allegedly attacking a 16-year-old girl after she refused sex.

The harrowing account was reported by Fox 13 in Tampa Bay after the minor claimed that she initially accepted an offer for money in exchange for sex.

That’s when, according to police, things took a violent turn.

“The victim initially agreed but later told Gardner that she no longer wanted to engage and he became angry,” police said.

“Gardner advised the victim that she needed to leave his hotel room,” they added. “The two got involved in a verbal altercation that escalated to a physical dispute after Gardner placed his hands around the victim’s neck, impeding her breathing.”

“Jimmie Gardner, a youth motivational speaker and brother-in-law of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, is facing serious charges of human trafficking and is currently in jail in Hillsborough County with no bond,” a statement by the Office of the State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit reads.

Stacey Abrams’ brother-in-law has just been arrested for human trafficking. pic.twitter.com/Kx6aEAdtjN

— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 17, 2023

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Abrams’ Brother-in-Law Arrested For Assaulting A Minor

Read that again – Jimmie Gardner, the brother-in-law of Stacey Abrams, is a “youth motivational speaker.”

It appears that he tried to use his motivational skills to coerce an underage girl into prostitution, if these reports are to be believed.

He is a motivational speaker and “emotional intelligence” expert working with prisoners. You can’t make this stuff up! https://t.co/tgbHXiOrE2

— Ellen Carmichael (@ellencarmichael) November 18, 2023

Tampa Police charged Gardner with “human trafficking, lewd and lascivious touching of certain minors, and battery.”

State Attorney Suzy Lopez reminded the public that everyone has a “presumption of innocence,” though her office indicates that Abrams’ brother-in-law spent 25 years in prison for sexually assaulting two women in West Virginia in 1987, but was later exonerated.

Two years after his release, he married Georgia Federal Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner, who was appointed her role by President Barack Obama in 2014.

She was considered a choice for Supreme Court by President Joe Biden.

Stacey Abrams sister is a federal judge appointed by former President Obama. She was on the shortlist for Supreme Court nominations President Joe Biden. And here is her husband arrested for human trafficking and kid touching. https://t.co/4ZCkQ5151O

— Carmine Sabia