Last week, local police served multiple search warrants at the home of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small. On Monday, a defiant Small said his home turned into a three-ring “circus” and that his family has been under investigation for several months over an unspecified “family matter.”

“We’re dealing with a family matter,” the mayor said at a City Hall press conference. “We’ve been dealing with [child services], who has been excellent. We’re going through family therapy and all.”

Small said the aggressive searches were meant to embarrass him. “It is political and it’s racial, because people don’t like the fact that this mayor has given minorities opportunities that they’ve never had in City Hall,” he said.

Ed Jacobs, Small’s attorney, further described the situation as personal, not political. “This entire investigation arose from nothing more than a personal and emotional family matter. The search warrants have nothing to do with Mayor Small’s important public matters.”