The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has found no criminal wrong-doing in its review of Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard’s use money forfeited from criminals, director Vernon Keenan said Thursday.
Keenan said the investigation remains open only because agents are still compiling documents that will be part of the report to Attorney General Sam Olens.
“We’ve concluded the investigation and we’re in the process of providing the file to the attorney general and that will be done when we finalize the audit report. The GBI sees no criminal activity here,” Keenan said.
On Wednesday, a similar investigation into Douglas County District Attorney David McDade’s spending of forfeiture money his office controls was closed with a signed agreement not to prosecute him. That agreement include McDade’s promise to resign at the end of this month and his agreement to write a personal check to Douglas County for $4,000, which is the total of the disputed spending.
The GBI investigation of the two prosecutors came after media reports of questionable spending by Howard and McDade.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last year the Fulton District Attorney’s Office had spent state forfeiture money on galas, dinners and back rent on a community prosecution office. Some of the expenditures included $5,100 to Bennie’s Red Barn, a Saint Simon’s Island restaurant, for a dinner with staffers and their families, 33 children’s meals at $270 and $1,600 for rib eye steaks.
Howard’s spokeswoman couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday but the Fulton DA said in an email on Wednesday he had been told the investigation of him found he had done nothing illegal.
A spokeswoman for Attorney General Sam Olens declined to comment because the Fulton case has not been officially closed.
The investigation of McDade began because of reports by a local newspaper and an Atlanta television station that he used his forfeiture account to give side jobs and government cars to favored employees. McDade has had serious health problems since December and has not been to the office since. His attorney announced his retirement at a news conference on Wednesday.
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