State Sen. Josh McKoon’s awkward acknowledgment Thursday that he would end his pursuit of punishment against Sen. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, drew a sharp rebuke about his handling of the situation from the chamber’s longest-serving member.
It was an unusually public airing of the Senate’s private business, and now members hope it closes the door on what Sen. Steve Thompson, D-Marietta, called “a shame … and a dark day” for a chamber that prides itself on being deliberative and collegial.
A jury acquitted Balfour last month on charges that he claimed expense reimbursement he was not entitled to. On Monday, Balfour returned to the Senate for this year’s legislative session and gave an unusually personal speech thanking his supporters and talking about humility, overcoming a wrong and moving forward. He also lamented the “political gamesmanship” he believed led to his indictment last year on 18 felony counts of trying to steal money from the state.
Balfour never mentioned McKoon, R-Columbus, by name. But it was McKoon’s 2012 complaint to the state attorney general’s office that kicked off the year-and-a-half investigation that led to Balfour’s indictment. Balfour had always acknowledged filing dozens of error-filled expense reports but said they were unintentional mistakes exacerbated by his busy work schedule.
McKoon said Thursday that he, too, was ready to move forward. But he couldn’t quite stop from taking one last swipe.
“As to the suggestion that what occurred in this case was the result of ‘political gamesmanship,’ nothing could be further from the truth, and to pretend otherwise brings discredit upon this body and its members,” said McKoon, who on Monday had noted the state constitution would have allowed the Senate to censure or otherwise punish Balfour even though he was found not guilty.
“I will always seek truth and justice in any matter I am called upon by virtue of my service in the state Senate, no matter the consequences,” he said. “With respect to this matter, the truth, which has never been disputed, perhaps an uncomfortable truth but an inescapable truth is that the rules of the Senate were broken and Georgia law was ignored. Every member of this body and the people of this state deserve better than that.”
The speech Thursday was met with a stony silence by the chamber, which on Monday gave Balfour a 20-second standing ovation. Balfour himself was not present, having left the floor before McKoon began to talk.
Thompson, well-liked and known as the Dean of the Senate for his 23-year tenure, then followed McKoon to the floor.
“I guess he who is without sin should cast the first stone,” Thompson said, “and I don’t see anyone out there who is strong enough to pick one up.”
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