[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6680077,"mediaKeyId","2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8","parentId",2171733,"title","State Ethics Commission approves $300,000 consent order with New Georgia Project, citing undisclosed millions in 2018–19 election activity","audioSeconds",2662,"startMs",2668000,"endMs",5093,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8&start=2668&end=5","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8/thumbnail_2668000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6680077/Georgia/State-Ethics-Commission-approves-300000-consent-order-with-New-Georgia-Project-citing-undisclosed-millions-in-201819-election-activity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680077-05e1ef2329de1b517b8a7eab96e6c09a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144555&Signature=dyM--O8Wcq7ZLXtbtjgHvKkO2t-mlOn4nEyD6XDGCaKLLoYWyAHR~M5Ap98inOgoT1z~3k2YKM4vXAHyWVXv4nwc8YGS7-xKN3YNr2dgJdx-hFaL4u5ozA1ti9hkdJvpH4rgmCg8AxDtG4MxGgfpYKj39uy5SzrNVSpPGMTjOd4iXeUKEx1oDS5lzLH2pn3SoYr16zqLf5E-JLA-gCsCmjlSo3vEL4Z3Jc9c961cgyvGw9kjMcxrY5JNJPN86AANi2MMFhk1WQK~2yU~PnOWaQn3BZD5DTih9QvzNLWfRD66sXtpP4EFeCpxp3FHaC5XVd32RLfdXyd0nD~foICnUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Georgia ","date","2025-01-24T05:12:28.72Z","article","The State Ethics Commission on Jan. 15 approved a consent order with New Georgia Project, Inc. and New Georgia Project Action Fund, Inc., resolving multi-year enforcement proceedings that alleged widespread failures to register and disclose independent-committee and ballot-committee activity during the 2018 statewide election cycle and the 2019 MARTA referendum.

Commission staff said the investigation and litigation began in September 2019, produced bank records in March 2022, and led to an amended complaint and a preliminary reasonable-grounds finding in August 2022. Staff told commissioners the respondents admitted to multiple violations and agreed in the consent order to pay a $300,000 civil penalty.

Staff summarized the admissions in the consent order as including failure to register as an independent committee and failure to file required disclosure reports for the 2018 cycle (staff reported the respondents did not disclose approximately $4,216,000 in contributions and about $3,217,000 in expenditures during that cycle). For the 2019 MARTA referendum, staff said respondents admitted failing to register as a ballot committee and not disclosing approximately $646,000 in contributions and $173,000 in expenditures tied to that referendum.

Staff presented documentary evidence at the meeting showing express-advocacy activity: campaign mailers and literature referencing Stacey Abrams for governor, social-media posts soliciting donations (including public ActBlue links), door-hanger and palm-card invoices paid out of New Georgia Project accounts, and field-operation materials such as canvasser scripts and hiring posts for phone banks and door-knocking staff. Staff said bank and vendor records showed most fundraising and payments flowed through New Georgia Project rather than a separately incorporated Action Fund, and that the Action Fund's online “donate” or “learn more” links redirected users to New Georgia Project pages.

David Fox, counsel for the respondents, addressed the commission remotely and said the respondents did not agree with every characterization in staff's presentation but considered the consent order a practical resolution of long-running litigation. \"Respondents are eager to put the matter behind them,\" Fox told the commission.

Commissioners who spoke praised staff persistence through repeated litigation. Commissioner Wise commended the staff’s diligence; Commissioner Thompson said the conduct illustrated the harm secret money can do to elections, while acknowledging the commission’s civil (not criminal) enforcement authority in these matters.

The commission moved to adopt the consent order in case 2019-0050pc; the motion was seconded, put to a voice vote and carried. The consent order notes respondents' representations, admissions, and agreement to the civil penalty. Staff described the $300,000 penalty as the largest fine assessed by the commission to date for campaign-finance violations.

The consent order resolves the administrative enforcement case and closes the matter as to the claims admitted in the order; staff said the settlement and admissions will be reflected in the commission's public records.

Because the consent order is a negotiated settlement that contains agreed factual findings and admissions, it does not resolve every factual disagreement the parties raised in litigation; the order narrows the issues to the matters enumerated in its findings and conclusions of law.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","GA Ethics Commission Meeting: January 15th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The State Ethics Commission approved a consent order with New Georgia Project and its Action Fund resolving allegations that the organizations failed to register and disclose millions in 2018–19 election-related activity; the entities agreed to a $300,000 civil penalty.","taxTitle","Government Transparency & Campaign Finance Commission, Executive Agencies, Executive, Georgia","taxId",36738,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6680080,"State Ethics Commission approves consent orders for two 2024 candidates over late filings",302,2458000,2760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8&start=2458&end=2760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8/thumbnail_2458000.jpg","/articles/6680080/Georgia/State-Ethics-Commission-approves-consent-orders-for-two-2024-candidates-over-late-filings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680080-2110dc0781f45f7989acf2201ee88fe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144555&Signature=EF1VyAAcLOCmrGnyn38BMPp~VTt9ZyCiELQvOaHe0do~LdqlfPZh5Yu2hKYccn-pZSDpfQ04oS2oNaLNF6GpqG7GxiJMXV62nS1mJD-hK8rKOZLqL2wdnrjMe~KTiKDyaDyyLGwGcQySv8pILpurbjgDnbABmPXMsJ2xMyFt9cKy-5hAPyMa6LXjYo~E3UomlRF5s5pbRR48Vuhmm9tUwV5IgcfO~OsNeGdvQ93YGXTcwRWFK1KCrfMivxaxv7ojtxO5G-XCpjuDQdQ1wTO7NFcI6XZlLodieUJ~GGNPvyka8NG5NdoJWKsaNgZLCueTijsIDQEGCGTJEOu0lDWpXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Ethics Commission on Jan. 15 accepted consent orders resolving two separate campaign-reporting matters: Doug Ingram, a 2024 candidate for Mulberry City Council, and Lorraine Cochran Johnson, a 2024 candidate for DeKalb County CEO.

Commission staff reported that Doug Ingram failed to file a personal financial-disclosure statement within 15 days of qualifying for office, described the omission as an oversight by a first-time candidate, and said Ingram cooperated and promptly filed the required statement. Under the consent order Ingram agreed to pay a $125 late fee and a $125 civil penalty, for a total of $250; staff told commissioners those fines had been paid.

Staff reported that Lorraine Cochran Johnson filed her April 30, 2024 CCBR late, admitted an oversight, and cooperated by filing the report within the week after staff contacted her; the parties agreed to a $250 late-filing fee. Staff indicated a fully executed consent order was on file for Ingram and that payment for Cochran Johnson’s fine was expected within the standard 30-day period.

The chair moved to accept the two consent orders “together” under the commission’s Hicks rule. The motion was seconded, and the commission approved both consent orders on a voice vote.

The approvals resolve those administrative enforcement matters via settlement and end staff’s enforcement activity on those two files.","The commission accepted two consent orders covering late or insufficient filings from 2024 municipal and county candidates, approving financial penalties and closing those matters by agreement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6680084,"State Ethics Commission finds reasonable grounds in Shaquita Maxwell preliminary hearing over $3,000 anonymous donation",2406,167000,2573000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8&start=167&end=2573","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2171733-3db39d8fcc7bc4ba96cc6a2936bbaff8/thumbnail_167000.jpg","/articles/6680084/Georgia/State-Ethics-Commission-finds-reasonable-grounds-in-Shaquita-Maxwell-preliminary-hearing-over-3000-anonymous-donation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6680084-472ca121e7405b0e29c0a75a0a4f549c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144555&Signature=o92Mi5HRiE5DDpABtKq2P5cK6fBc5H5LkyIkD8LnVxNo3WRlBbbYwQPEufsRn8Jqw612V8RSuXGw1lLFaES8oxikDKjmddFJ1jgeB1UT2cytQ6buOtxWnqs6Rfn7gjKPb-AEK7qKV0N1d1vEFOql6NH3nP-zHNICsuHjgaXxcZNtIENc14MpQuWMn~FkFaA2HlTAB0rd2LPNROlMUrR3emB68L7KcCzBo0RwwAtoJ43LohkYCneWd7h5lHjX-02fI3hYNY5IppfqJJbnzoGEhIVGFLF3QyfSVCNM-~hvF3QvuHt2Pb3TDKW6JCCp0oo3w5G3mPbXsnK1ez0Pp6KDQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The State Ethics Commission on Jan. 15 denied a request to continue a preliminary hearing for Shaquita Maxwell and voted that reasonable grounds exist that she accepted an anonymous $3,000 campaign contribution and violated multiple campaign-finance filing requirements.

Commission staff presented investigation findings showing a $3,000 cash entry on an April 30, 2024 campaign contribution disclosure that appears to be marked “anonymous,” and concluded Maxwell failed to open and maintain a campaign depository account and missed several statutorily scheduled filings. \"The law is pretty clear. That's number 1, a violation,\" commission staff said when describing the anonymous-contribution allegation.

The commission treated a staff report and an email record of communications with Maxwell as the basis for a motion on a continuance request. The panel denied the respondent’s motion for continuance after hearing that Maxwell had not provided sufficient documentary proof of a medical appointment that staff had been offered as the reason for her absence. The chair moved to deny the continuance and the motion carried after a second and an affirmative voice vote.

Afterward, the commission heard the merits presented by staff. Investigators described discrepancies in Maxwell’s April 30, 2024 CCBR (candidate contribution and expenditure report), including grouped entries labeled “Macedonia Church Family” and “Maxwell family and friends” that staff said did not meet itemization requirements for contributions over the reporting threshold. An amended report filed May 9 listed an identified person, Wanda Middleton, in place of an earlier “anonymous” entry; staff said that change raised additional concerns because it suggested a third-party handoff to the candidate’s family and did not resolve whether the original donor remained anonymous.

Staff also presented unreported campaign spending indicators drawn from social media posts and advertising examples, and said the campaign lacked a verified campaign bank account for large cash amounts reported. Staff told the commission it had advised Maxwell in May 2024 to inventory contributors and expenditures and to open a depository account but that required filings remained insufficient.

The commission then voted, by individual motions, that reasonable grounds exist for six alleged violations: (1) acceptance of an anonymous contribution in violation of OCGA 21-5-30(e); (2) failure to open and maintain a campaign depository account in violation of OCGA 21-5-30(c); (3) failure to timely file the June 30, 2024 CCBR in violation of OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A); (4) failure to timely file the September 30, 2024 CCBR in violation of OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A); (5) failure to timely file the October 25, 2024 CCBR in violation of OCGA 21-5-34(c)(2)(A); and (6) failure to report campaign contributions and/or expenditures in violation of OCGA 21-5-34(b).

Each motion was seconded and carried on an affirmative voice vote. The commission did not record roll-call tallies in the meeting transcript for these motions; the minutes reflect that the motions carried after the chair called the question and commissioners responded, \"Aye.\"

The finding of reasonable grounds advances the matter to the next stage of the commission’s enforcement process, where formal charges, settlement negotiations, or an administrative hearing could follow. Staff emphasized that the anonymous-contribution statute requires forfeiture to the state treasurer when a donor cannot be identified; staff said they discussed this requirement and other compliance steps with Maxwell during their prior contacts.

Maxwell was not present at the hearing. Staff said they had email and a power-point exchange with her and described at least two prior continuances and phone contacts dating back to 2024. Staff also said they had warned Maxwell of potential penalties but had offered flexibility if she corrected reporting deficiencies.","The State Ethics Commission voted at its Jan. 15 meeting to deny a continuance and to find reasonable grounds that candidate Shaquita Maxwell accepted an anonymous $3,000 contribution and committed multiple campaign-filing violations, moving the matter forward for enforcement action.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State Ethics Commission approves $300,000 consent order with New Georgia Project, citing undisclosed millions in 2018–19 election activity

State Ethics Commission approves consent orders for two 2024 candidates over late filings

State Ethics Commission finds reasonable grounds in Shaquita Maxwell preliminary hearing over $3,000 anonymous donation