Draft:List of Georgia political scandals

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included.

Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal.

Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence.

Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included.

Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings.

The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later.

Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation. Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Georgia

• Danny Rampey (R) State Representative from Statham in House District 119, was newly re-elected when he was arrested and charged with six counts of obtaining drugs by misrepresentation or theft, six counts of exploiting an elder or disabled adult, five counts of burglary, and one count of drug possession. He stepped aside from his seat before being sworn in, rather than face possible suspension. (2022)

• Jim Beck (politician) (R) Insurance Commissioner of Georgia, was accused of embezzling $2 million dollars from a former employer and using part of it to run for office. He was convicted and sentenced to 87 months in prison. (2021)

• Parker H. Petit (R) Chairman of Finances for Donald Trump’s Georgia 2016 campaign, was accused of securities fraud at the Marietta-based biotech company he once worked for. He was tried, found guilty and sentenced to one year in prison and fined $1.000.000. (2020)

• Michael Williams (Georgia politician) (R) State Senator from the 27th District and candidate for governor, claimed computers were stolen from his campaign office. After investigation he was accused of making a false police report, perjury and insurance fraud for claiming his computers were stolen. He was found guilty and was sentenced to four years probation, 120 hours of community service and fined. (2018)

• Jason Spencer (R) State Representative from Woodbine in District 180, appeared on a Showtime TV program entitled “Who is America?”. The host Sacha Baron Cohen, encouraged him to drop his pants and use several racial epithets during a skit. Georgia House Speaker David Ralston (R) called for Spencer to step down, saying he had “disgraced himself and should resign immediately. Georgia is better than this.” Spencer resigned the next day. (2018)

• Tyrone Brooks Sr. (D) State Representative from Atlanta, pled guilty to one count of tax fraud and five counts of wire and mail fraud. He was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. (2014)

• J. Nathan Deal (R) Governor of Georgia, was a elected US Representative, when he was accused of undue influence on Georgia State legislation beneficial to himself. When a federal ethics investigation was begun, he resigned the US House, and ran and won the race governor. The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission under Stacy Kalberman began their own investigation and alleged widespread irregularities in Deal’s campaign for Governor. As the investigation progressed, now Governor Nathan Deal (R) demoted Kalberman and replaced her with Holly LaBerge. In addition, he fired Assistant Commission Director Sherilyn Streiker, Commission Attorney Elisabeth Murray-Obertein and Commission Specialist John Hair, thus gutting the Commission. Thereupon, all four of them filed a whistleblower lawsuit against him and won. Kalberman was awarded $1,150,000. The others split $1,800,000. See Holly LaLaBerge. See also List of federal political scandals in the United States. (2011)

• Holly LaBerge ( ) Executive Director of the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission was appointed by Republican Governor Nathan Deal to replace former Director Stacey Kalberman who had tried to subpoena him for information on his alleged campaign improprieties. LaBerge was accused of withholding documents during the Kalberman investigation. She was found guilty of being ‘dishonest and nontransparent’ and fined $10,000. Three days later she was fired. (2010)

• Glenn Richardson (R) State Representative of District 19 and House Speaker. While pushing a bill which benefited the Atlanta Gas Light company, he was accused by his wife of having a long term affair with their female lobbyist. She divorced him and discussed the affair on television. On November 8, 2009, he attempted suicide. On December 3, 2009 he stepped down as House Speaker and resigned his seat. (2009)

• Walter Ronnie Sailor Jr. (D) State Senator from Norcross in District 93, pled guilty to laundering money he believed to be from the sale of cocaine. He was sentenced to 63 months in prison. (2007)

• David Graves (politician) (R) State Representative from Macon in the 13th District, was arrested for DUI, for which he claimed “legislative immunity”. Since it was his second arrest, the judge rejected his argument and sentenced him to 10 days in jail, suspended his license, fined him $1,600, with 20 days of home confinement, 240 hours of community service, and alcohol counseling. (2005)

• Charles Walker (Georgia politician) Sr. (D) State Senator from Augusta was convicted of 127 felony charges related to various schemes, including making false statements, perjury, conspiracy and fraud. Walker repaid $698,047 in restitution and another $200,000 in fines and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. (2005)

• Robin L. Williams (R) State Representative of District 114, was accused of fraud, money laundering and bribery in a scheme which bilked $2 million from the Community Mental Health Center of East Central Georgia. He was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in prison. (2003)

• Linda Schrenko (R) State Schools Superintendent was accused of embezzling over $500,000 from public funds ear marked for schools for the deaf and used the money to fund her 2002 campaign for governor, as well as for personal uses, such as cosmetic surgery. She was found guilty of fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and embezzlement and was sentenced to eight years and one month in prison. (2002)

1. Merle Temple (R) Deputy Schools Superintendent and Campaign Manager of Linda Schrenko, was sentenced to eight years and one month for her role in helping Schrenko embezzle public funds. (2002)
2. Richard Leonard (R) Campaign Manager for Linda Schrenko (R) was found guilty of witness tampering and sentenced to one year of probation and fined $3,000. (2002)

See also

• Lists of political scandals in the United States by state or territory
• List of federal political scandals in the United States

• List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes

References

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Categories:

• Lists of political scandals in the United States by state or territory
• Political scandals in Georgia (U.S. state)
• Georgia (U.S. state)-related lists