Cosby: Ethics Commission Did Not Provide Chance To Address Charges

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Carolyn Cosby, a local Tea Party activists dogged by allegations of violating Georgia’s ethics rules, is accusing the state ethics commission of not working with her to schedule a time in which she could address the charges against her.

For the second time in as many years, the Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission on Wednesday found probable cause in the complaints against the Tea Party activist and voted to turn over the complaints for the state Attorney’s General office to further investigate, according to the Cherokee Ledger-News.

Cosby, who did not attend Wednesday’s hearing, said she was “shocked” the ethics commission “failed to provide me an opportunity to appear at a hearing.”

“I respect the purpose of the Commission and regret I was unable to attend,” she said in a prepared statement. “I made it clear (that) I was planning to be in attendance, but was prevented due to illness. I informed the Commission within the time constraints available to me and I acted in accordance with doctor’s orders. I place importance on this matter and my attorney and I are considering my further course of action at this time.”

The commission, according to the Ledger, received a doctor’s note from Cosby the night before the hearing, but decided to continue on with its meeting. Cosby filed several requests to delay the hearings, all of which were denied, the Ledger reported.

Lauren Kane, spokesperson for the attorney general’s office, said the office ”will review the files and work toward a resolution once they are received from the Secretary of State.”

“If the complaints cannot be resolved, they will be sent to the Office of State Administrative Hearings for a hearing,” she said.

The complaints revolve around Cosby’s alleged failure to abide by state rules pertaining to campaign fundraising and reporting policies. Two complaints were filed by Canton resident Garrett Jamieson and another two were filed by fellow resident Jeff Wilbur.

Those two complaints weren’t the first filed against the Tea Party activist.

Former Cherokee County Commissioner Karen Bosch in 2012 filed a complaint against Cosby, alleging she raised money to influence voters during the July 31, 2012, Republican primary. That case, heard in 2013, had also been turned over to the state Attorney’s General office for probable cause, but remains unresolved.

According to the Ledger, Jamieson’s complaint was attached to Bosch’s original complaint, as they both accused Cosby of not registering groups she organized as independent committees, political action committees or ballot committees. Jamieson’s complaint alleged Cosby failed to register two organizations — Canton T.E.A. Party and Georgians For Healthcare Freedom Ltd. — with the state as committees.

Commissioners also added Cosby’s name back to a complaint filed in 2012 regarding Cosby’s Review and Recommendations Committee to Assist County Government, according to the Ledger. The commission noted Cosby’s attorney, Channing Ruskell, “misspoke” when he said Cosby was not the chair of the organization. The Ledger reports staff attorneys noted they found several instances in which Cosby referred to herself as the chair of the organization, which was initially formed as an effort to help the Cherokee County government cut spending.

Ruskell declined to comment on the commission’s decision. He also said he does not represent Cosby and does not have “a relationship” with her.

In his complaints, Wilbur alleges Cosby did not report expenses related to signs she created and not registering Citizens Opposed to Spiraling Taxation as an independent committee during the May 20 Republican primary.

The commission said ethics staff reached out to printing companies with subpoenas to determine who paid for advertising in a local election. Since it was determined Cosby paid for the ads, her organizations should have been registered with the state as independent committees, the Ledger reports.

Wilbur praised the commission for finding probable cause in Cosby’s actions, adding the outcome serves as warning to residents to educate themselves on public figures.

“Be aware who it is you stand behind,“ he said. “(Be aware of) their principles, their character and their standing on pertinent issues.”

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