GBI Ordered to Investigate DeKalb Corruption Report

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has been ordered to review an ethics investigation and report that calls for the resignation of DeKalb interim CEO Lee May.

Gov. Nathan Deal issued the order on Thursday, according to the AJC.

The investigation, conduced by former state Attorney General Mike Bowers and Richard Hyde, was released this week. It cited widespread corruption and improper spending from many elected and appointed county officials, including local commissioners Kathie Gannon and Jeff Rader.

Deal appointed May as interim CEO two years ago after then-CEO Burrell Ellis was indicted on corruption charges.

“As I have said all along, I welcome and support all investigations into DeKalb County Government, and this includes the Governor’s announcement today,” May said in a statement. “ I have previously urged all county employees to cooperate in all investigations, and that statement still stands.”

When the report was released earlier this week, May called its findings “laughable,” and said he had no intention of resigning, reported The Champion.

District 1 commissioner Nancy Jester, who represents Dunwoody, said in a statement, “There is nothing laughable about the report. It is a stinging indictment on a culture of corruption and incompetence which victimizes innocent taxpayers and the overwhelming majority of county employees who work hard each day to lawfully perform their duties.

“It does nothing to help the working families of DeKalb County, who pay the taxes which fund the government, to deny the realities contained in this report.

“It insults the taxpayers of DeKalb County to describe a 40 page report which alleges illegal and improper spending of taxpayer dollars as laughable. Every dollar referenced in this report is a dollar earned by a taxpayer and as such, the leadership of DeKalb County must take this report extremely seriously.”