17 for ’17: Bribery Scandal Rocks Atlanta City Hall
As 2017 comes to a close, a bribery scandal that first surfaced in January continues to rock Atlanta City Hall.
Al Such / WABE
WABE News is looking back at the top 17 news stories in 2017.
A bribery scandal that first made headlines in January continues to rock Atlanta City Hall even as 2017 comes to a close.
Allegations of a pay-for-play arrangement first came to light in late January when contractor “E.R.” Mitchell, Jr. was charged with felony conspiracy and money laundering. He admitted to giving more than a million dollars in bribe money to an unnamed person with the understanding that the funds would ultimately land in the pockets of influential city officials. He’s serving a five-year sentence.
A second contractor, Charles P. Richards Jr., also pleaded guilty as a co-conspirator and is serving a 27-month sentence.
In February, federal investigators issued a subpoena for spending records related to the city’s procurement department. Adam Smith, the city’s chief procurement officer, was fired the same day. Seven months later, Smith pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges and is scheduled for sentencing in February.
Mitchell, Richards and Smith are all believed to be cooperating with federal investigators.
After initially resisting local media’s calls to publically disclose records turned over to the FBI, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed made available nearly 1.5-million pages of documents in what collectively became known as the “Document Dump.” They consumed 400 boxes.
Last month, Shandarrick Barnes pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges. He threw a brick of concrete through E.R. Mitchell’s home with “ER, keep your mouth shut!” scribbled on the side. He also faces a February sentencing date.
Outgoing Mayor Kasim Reed says his administration has been fully cooperative with the FBI and previously said resolving the bribery scandal is the city’s highest priority. In an interview with the AJC, Reed denied having any connection to the bribery scandal, quipping, “I don’t need the money.” He says he is concerned over how the investigation will reflect on his legacy as mayor.
In an interview with WABE’s Denis O’Hayer, U.S. Attorney “B.J.” Pak — the prosecutor responsible for the investigation — indicated more developments will surface in the scandal in 2018.
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