Published: April 15, 2026
CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia — A radio host confirmed live by phone to a House committee Tuesday that Grand Gedeh County District 3 Representative Jacob C. Debee II called into his program and alleged that $200,000 was spent on a trip to the Solumba border, directly contradicting Debee’s repeated denials before the same committee minutes earlier.
The dramatic turn came during a hearing of the House Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, convened to investigate a formal complaint by Nimba County District 5 Representative Kortor S. Kwagrue, who accused Debee of making damaging public statements against House Speaker and Deputy Speaker on the Spoon Talk program.
Committee Chair James Kolleh placed a live call to Spoon Talk host Staton Witherspoon in the middle of the proceedings. Witherspoon’s account left little room for ambiguity.
“Jacob Debee didn’t appear, but he called on the show and said that he heard that US$200,000 was used for the trip to the Solumba border,” Witherspoon told the committee.
The confirmation landed as Debee was still maintaining he had neither appeared on Spoon FM nor made any allegations against House leadership.
When an audio recording presented by the complainant was played before the committee, Debee stopped short of a full denial. “Accepting without admitting, the purported recording that was played is my voice,” he said, while continuing to dispute that he had made the statements or granted any interview to the program.
The hearing was triggered after plenary, acting on Kwagrue’s complaint, mandated the Rules, Order and Administration Committee to investigate the matter and report back during the ongoing extraordinary session.
At issue is whether Debee’s alleged statements violated House standing rules governing the conduct and public behavior of members. Rule 41 prohibits members from misusing the power entrusted to them. Rule 42 requires lawmakers to uphold the prestige and dignity of the Legislature. Rule 48.1 provides for disciplinary action against any member found in violation of House ethics and procedures.
Committee Co-Chair Alexander Poure, who presided over the session, thanked both the complainant and Debee for their cooperation and confirmed the committee would compile its findings and present recommendations to plenary.
The hearing adds to a difficult stretch for Debee, a first-term lawmaker who has been drawn into several high-profile legislative disputes in recent months. He has also been linked to the ongoing investigation into the Capitol Building arson involving a number of prominent figures, including former Speaker Fonati Koffa, though no court has established any finding of guilt against him.
The Rules Committee is simultaneously investigating Montserrado County District 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah over separate remarks connected to the Liberia-Guinea border dispute. Both Debee and Kolubah are aligned with the Rule of Law Caucus, a bloc associated with supporters of former Speaker Koffa, underscoring the factional tensions running through the current legislative session.
The committee’s report to plenary will determine whether formal disciplinary measures follow and what consequences, if any, Debee faces.
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