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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 18 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHouse speaker ethics complaint dropped
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The General Assembly’s ethics committee has dismissed a scandalous conflict-of-interest complaint filed against House Speaker Glenn Richardson (R-Hiram), saying no evidence was submitted to back up the allegation.
The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee confirmed its decision in a letter yesterday to state Democratic Party chairman Bobby Kahn, who filed the complaint. Richardson’s office started distributing the letter to the news reporters today.
“The Review Committee does not find that sufficient information exists to find probable cause to warrant further investigation by the review committee or the full Joint Legislative Ethics Committee,” the letter says, “and the complaint is hereby dismissed.”
Kahn sent his complaint to the ethics committee this month, alleging Richardson had an “inappropriate personal” relationship with an Atlanta Gas Light lobbyist while cosponsoring a bill that would have financed a $300 million pipeline for the utility. Kahn says the alleged relationship “constituted a clear conflict of interest” for the speaker.
Kahn has so far declined to identify the lobbyist. And he has so far refused to disclose any evidence he might have of the alleged relationship, other than to say that it was “common knowledge.”
Richardson has denied he had a conflict of interest but has refused to confirm or deny the alleged relationship with the AGL lobbyist. The speaker has said the complaint is without merit and predicted it would be dismissed.
“Now that these baseless political attacks are behind me,” Richardson said in a prepared statement his office issued today, “I look forward to continuing to do the job I have been elected to do.
“We will focus on reducing the tax burden on Georgia’s working families, improving education for Georgia’s children, and ensuring that all Georgians are better off now than they were four years ago.” In reacting to the committee’s decision, Kahn lashed out at the GOP majority in the state legislature, saying “Republicans rushed out to protect the speaker.”
“The GOP’s culture of corruption has taken an even firmer hold in Atlanta,” he said in a prepared statement. “The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee was a joke — they operated in secret and clearly made the rules up as they went along. The GOP clearly is not serious about ethics.”
“This shows just how little the GOP leadership cares about true ethics reform, accountability, and the openness of government,” Kahn continued. “Unfortunately, what more could we expect from Governor Sonny Perdue, President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, and Speaker Glenn Richardson?
“Last week during his press conference, the speaker, Johnson said ‘is a friend.’ Clearly in the New Georgia, Republicans put taking care of their friends as the top priority.”
In its letter, the ethics panel referred to one of its rules that says complaints “shall contain specific description of the nature of the alleged conflict of interest… and a statement of the specific facts upon which all allegations are based.”
“The allegation that certain matters are ‘common knowledge’ clearly fails to meet this requirement,” the letter says.
Senate President Pro Tem Eric Johnson, co-chairman of the ethics committee, also issued a statement today, confirming he appointed a bipartisan review committee to determine whether Kahn’s complaint warranted a review by the full panel.
Johnson said he appointed himself, Sen. George Hooks (D-Americus) and Rep. Lynn Smith (R-Newnan) to the review committee. He also confirmed the review committee’s decision was unanimous.
“We take our new responsibilities very seriously,” Johnson said. “However, we cannot look into vague charges based on gossip and rumor without any evidence supporting the charge. To do so would turn this committee into a circus and invite kooks and partisans to file false charges. If the chairman of the Georgia Republican Party had sent a similar letter attacking a prominent Democrat, our response would be the same.
“The Joint Legislative Ethics Committee must not allow itself to be used for partisan political purposes,” Johnson continued. “The fact that the chairman of a political party makes vague accusations against a leader of the other party on the weekend before the inauguration and the opening day of the session clearly indicates the motivation behind the charge. It should insult the people of Georgia and embarrass those who take the political process seriously.”
Johnson also predicted Kahn will next claim a “whitewash” and a “cover up.”
“That is what he planned all along,” Johnson said. “He knows we cannot pursue undocumented charges. He is simply manipulating the process and the media. All I can ask is that the media treat rumor as rumor and fact as fact. The fact is there is no evidence of any wrong doing.”
In an interview today, House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) pointed out that Richardson has refused to confirm or deny the alleged relationship with the AGL lobbyist. And he raised concerns about whether Kahn was given an opportunity to present any evidence he might have to the committee before it dismissed his complaint.
“I think you will continue to have a cloud over this issue,” Porter said. “The credibility of the process is in question until we can learn more about what occurred.”
The State Ethics Commission has also dismissed Kahn’s complaint, Richardson’s office said today. Rick Thompson, executive director of the commission, could not be immediately reached today to confirm the complaint was dismissed.
Permalink | Comments (10) | Post your comment | Categories: politics
Comments
By Homer
January 18, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
wohoo!!! now maybe speaker Richardson can push through beer sales on Sunday. Because nothing says common sense like limiting sales to bars that you have to drive to to get alcohol on Sunday.
By Goober
January 18, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Bobby “Con” needs to get a real job. Clearly he has too much time on his hands, especially now that his own Democratic Party has fired him for failing to win or do anything good in the last four years.
By Ken
January 18, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
Dem. party chairman Kahn has in my opinion clearly violated ethics by making accusations with no evidence to backup the claim. Mr. Richardson in turn should file a complaint against Mr. Kahn. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
By Robert
January 18, 2007 01:09 PM | Link to this
It’s common knowledge Glenn wouldn’t be having an inappropriate relationship with a female lobbyist. It’s the dudes he likes.
By cass
January 18, 2007 01:42 PM | Link to this
What about the person on the other end of this, the female lobbyist? As the paper read, she “resigned” last month. So if its not true, she lost her job to save face for the company and the Speaker?
Makes me sick!
By cass
January 18, 2007 01:43 PM | Link to this
What about the person on the other end of this, the female lobbyist? As the paper read, she “resigned” last month. So if its not true, she lost her job to save face for the company and the Speaker?
Makes me sick!
By cass
January 18, 2007 01:47 PM | Link to this
Now what happens to the female lobbyist that “resigned” last month? I guess she just lost her job to save the company and the Speaker’s face.
Just sickening!
By Dale
January 18, 2007 02:32 PM | Link to this
I think “ethical politician” is an oxy-moron. While I certainly think Richardson is definitely unethical,just by the look of his poor wife’s face at the swearing in ceremony, Kahn better watch out for the skeletons in his own closet.
By CLAX
January 18, 2007 02:44 PM | Link to this
Ken:
You ignorant Republican Hick. Bobby Kahn is not a member of the Legislature and is not subject to ethics laws. What an idiot!
By Peaches
January 18, 2007 03:15 PM | Link to this
Bobby Kahn has been a disaster for the Democratic Party in Georgia. Time for him to go into obscurity and take his sleaze ball politics with him. The shame is that he could get so much press coverage with an allegation with no names, no facts and no evidence.
Bobby Kahn will forever have his name associated with the stink of trashy, mean-spiritied politics of personal destruction. Lets get out the air freshener and hope he stays out of politics.