Politics
Politics

Documents revealed on eve of DeKalb CEO Ellis’ trial

By
Sept 15, 2014

Court orders released Monday reveal a series of potentially damaging decisions against suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis.

Superior Court Judge Courtney Johnson has ruled that Ellis can’t claim he was set up and can’t speculate about the racial biases of a vendor Ellis is accused of seeking bribes from.

About 38 documents were unsealed Monday by Johnson following a legal request by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action news.

Johnson also found that Ellis’ defense team committed violations by not turning over thousands of pages of documents.

In addition, Johnson allowed prosecutors to present recordings of Ellis discussing whether “six-figure” county employees had contributed to his re-election campaign.

Ellis is fighting criminal allegations that he shook down county contractors for campaign donations.

Please return to AJC.com and MyAJC.com for updates.

About the Author

Mark Niesse is an enterprise reporter and covers elections and Georgia government for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is considered an expert on elections and voting. Before joining the AJC, he worked for The Associated Press in Atlanta, Honolulu and Montgomery, Alabama. He also reported for The Daily Report and The Santiago Times in Chile.

Follow Mark Niesse on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Derek Dooley wasn't very successful as football coach of the Tennessee Vols. He's hoping for better results in his campaign for U.S. Senate. (File 2012 AP)

Credit: AP

What Tennessee fans think of their old coach, Derek Dooley, running for U.S. Senate

As their former head football coach, Derek Dooley, runs for Senate, most Tennessee fans in Georgia didn’t even know he was in the race.

OPINION

Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a watershed for Gen Z

Young people will always remember where they were when Charlie Kirk was shot. Let’s also make it the moment when everything changed.

Warnock: Political violence, hate speech could kill democracy

U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning political violence one day after the death of Charlie Kirk.

The Latest

Derek Dooley wasn't very successful as football coach of the Tennessee Vols. He's hoping for better results in his campaign for U.S. Senate. (File 2012 AP)

Credit: AP

What Tennessee fans think of their old coach, Derek Dooley, running for U.S. Senate

Clark Dean preps outsider-themed GOP run for Georgia governor

Early voting begins for special state Senate runoff election

Featured

In this file photo from October 2024, Atlanta Braves outfielder Jorge Soler and teammates react after losing to the San Diego Padres 5-4 in San Diego. The Braves and Soler, who now plays for the Los Angeles Angels, face a lawsuit by a fan injured at a 2021 World Series game at Truist Park in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason.Getz@ajc.com

A Braves fan took a ball to the face. The team may be liable, judges say.

The Atlanta Braves and former right fielder Jorge Soler face a lawsuit by a fan hit in the eye with a ball during a World Series game at Truist Park in 2021.

Joro spiders multiply across Georgia, spinning their pesky webs

The invasive species has multiplied rapidly in Atlanta in the last three years, research shows.

Ford settles billion-dollar Georgia lawsuits over fatal wrecks

Ford Motor Co. has settled two Georgia lawsuits that elicited record-setting jury verdicts of $1.7 billion and $2.5 billion, ending more than a decade of litigation.