Cause of Death Revealed for Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s Former Staffer Linked to Leaked Audio Scandal
Jerome Brooks, a 36-year-old former staffer for Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas, died of a drug overdose shortly after the leak of an audio clip in which Jackson Lee was heard berating him and another staffer during her mayoral campaign in Houston.
Brooks was disparaged by the congresswoman while working as a staffer for her ill-fated Houston mayoral bid last November, as revealed by a leaked audio clip at the time. The release of this audio to various Houston media outlets created significant controversy and posed challenges for the congresswoman’s campaign.
Brooks’ was discovered in a hotel room only a few short days after the incident, sparking an investigation into the circumstances of his death, as reported by local source KPRC-TV. Sources noted that Brooks had been observed consuming alcohol and taking pills on the evening of October 29.
“He reportedly clutched his chest at one point and slumped over. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died at the scene,” the investigation found. The police quickly ruled out homicide, pending the results of a toxicology report.
The toxicology report concluded that Brooks died from an accidental overdose.
Chief Forensic Pathologist Satish Chundru determined that Brooks died from an accidental overdose after combining alcohol with ecstasy and methamphetamine. This mixture, along with the presence of an erectile dysfunction drug in his system, led to his untimely death.
The leaked audio clip that brought Brooks into the public eye showcased a tense moment within Jackson Lee’s campaign.
“I don’t want you to do a g***** thing,” Jackson Lee was heard shouting in the clip. Her frustration with her staff’s performance was evident as she criticized them, including Brooks.
In response to the leaked audio, Jackson Lee expressed regret but did not issue an apology.
“To anyone who has listened to this recording with concern, I am regretful and hope you will judge me not by something trotted out by a political opponent, that worked to exploit this, and backed by extreme Republican supporters on the very day that polls open, but from what I’ve delivered to Houstonians over my years of public service,” she stated.
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