(The Center Square) – Months after three Georgia lawmakers were charged with federal pandemic-related unemployment fraud, a candidate for state attorney general is calling for more accountability among state agencies.
The allegations are a good example of why more accountability is needed, Republican state Sen. Brian Strickland, the Republican nominee for the attorney general’s post, said in an interview with The Center Square.
Georgia state Rep. Sharon Henderson pleaded guilty in July to making false statements to obtain funds administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. Prosecutors said the Covington Democrat lied on federal documents to collect $17,811 in unemployment benefits during the pandemic. Henderson did not resign her post and was suspended by Gov. Brian Kemp. She later ran for a state Senate seat and lost in the Democratic primary.
Stone Mountain Democrat Karen L. Bennett pleaded guilty to federal charges of making false statements to collect $13,940 of pandemic unemployment benefits. Valdosta Democrat Dexter L. Sharper pleaded guilty to the same charge for collecting $13,825 of pandemic unemployment benefits.
Bennett and Sharper resigned after they were charged.
Strickland said the attorney general could do two things to hold elected officials and agencies more accountable with taxpayer dollars. While the General Assembly is tasked with reviewing state agencies through the budget process, the attorney general could have more oversight.
“What I would like to do is go back to each agency and ask them what are they doing to stay on top of the taxpayer dollars they allocate,” Strickland said. “Because a lot of money, whether it be federal or state money, flows through those agencies.”
All complaints need to be investigated, Strickland said.
“It’s important that whether they’re Republican or Democrat, you need to set partisanship aside,” Strickland said. “It turns out that this particular case involves three Democratic lawmakers but it doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t be a partisan thing.”
Strickland’s November opponent, Democrat Tanya Miller, told The Center Square that her legal standard is absolute.
“Stealing taxpayer money is a crime,” Miller said. “Anyone who breaks the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, regardless of their political party, ZIP code or income.”
Miller serves in the Georgia House of Representatives and is the chairwoman of the House Democratic caucus.
Strickland began his career in the General Assembly in the House of Representatives, serving there from 2012 until his election to the Senate in 2017. He chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Miller and Strickland will compete for the attorney general’s post in the Nov. 3 general election. Current Attorney General Chris Carr made an unsuccessful run for governor and is not seeking another term.
