(The Center Square) — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr won’t investigate after a state audit raised questions about a $1.1 billion contract to distribute debit cards to direct benefits recipients, according to a report.
Georgia Democrats, citing an 11 Alive report, blasted Carr for his apparent decision. An attorney general spokeswoman and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation did not respond to requests for comment.
At issue is a $1.1 billion contract the Georgia Department of Human Services executed to distribute debit cards to direct benefits recipients, including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The contract was highlighted in a January review by the Georgia Department of Audits & Accounts.
During a media briefing last week, Democrats said the audit surfaced questions about whether Kemp’s administration circumvented state contracting requirements, potentially for political gain.
Kemp’s office did not respond to a request for comment last week or a second request on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Georgia Democrats did not respond to a request to confirm whether they have formally asked a state or federal agency to investigate.
“An attorney general, elected to enforce our laws, should never abandon their duties for their own personal political gain,” state Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, and state Sen. Nan Orrock, D-Atlanta, said in a joint statement. “Georgians need to know if Governor Kemp broke the law to use $1.1 billion taxpayer dollars as an illegal in-kind contribution to his campaign a month before Election Day, which warrants further investigation. Georgians also need to know why that assistance program was handled so poorly and if that reason was the administration’s rush to implement it before the election.”