Q: Now that Burrell Ellis has been found guilty, will he have to repay DeKalb County for the salary he received during the trial? Also, did DeKalb County pay his legal fees?
—Paul Kendig, Marietta
A: Georgia law doesn't require DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis to repay the salary he received since Gov. Nathan Deal suspended him in July 2013.
Ellis was paid his $157,000 a year salary until he was convicted July 1 of one count of attempted extortion and three counts of perjury.
DeKalb County didn’t pay Ellis’ legal fees.
Ellis will remain suspended without pay now that he’s been found guilty, according to state law.
He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 3½ years probation on July 8.
Q: I heard a rumor that CNN’s Brooke Baldwin said not to hire veterans because they were unreliable. Please let me know if there’s any truth to that.
—Mike Blalock, Marietta
A: Baldwin actually said that veterans who had become police officers were contributing to the violence in cities, specifically Baltimore, during this spring's riots.
“A lot of these young people, and I love our nation’s veterans, but some of them are coming back from war, they don’t know the communities, and they are ready to do battle,” she said.
Baldwin later apologized on air and also tweeted: “I am sorry for what I said earlier about veterans. It was wrong and I apologize to anyone who was hurt by my comments.”
Andy Johnston wrote this column; Mark Niesse contributed. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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