According to a report on WALB’s website by Karen Cohilas, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has turned over the results of the Don Buie investigation to the Dougherty County District Attorney’s office. The report is quite large. The investigation is described as “three volumes and hundreds of pages long,” which seems to mean they did a lot more than investigate allegations that Buie received a kickback from Nicole Brown.
The WALB report also says, “District Attorney Greg Edwards tells WALB this case is a priority for his office since it involves a public official mishandling taxpayer dollars.”
This post will be updated as more information becomes available.
My bet is that Greg will do the right thing. Just thank goodness that Ken Hodges is not still there.
Mine is too. I have little doubt they’ll nail his butt to the wall.
I think the strategy will be to scapegoat Buie, get a little money from Woods and then the Langstaff types can say “we fixed it.”
Of course, they’ve learned nothing from the whole experience, but that’s not the point. They just want to get through November.
Sounds like Buie may get his but let’s not forget, throwing the book at Don Buie doesn’t/won’t resolve the issues that caused the discovery of Buie’s misdeeds in the first place. The editorial in today’s Herald cautiously suggests “downtown issues start to resolve” I guess it’s safe to say we’ve made a start but there is a long way to go. Except for Buie every element of the downtown equation is exactly the same as it was when concerned citizens (not city/county employees, not elected officials, not board members) demanded accountability. The ADICA board should still resign, the $6 million bond should still be stopped, the entire gerrymandered TAD scheme should still be re-examined, Lott’s hiring practices should be evaluated, the City, County, an other government entities should still get out of the rental property business………the list goes on.
Jack: I have strong reason to believe that the DA’s office has other plans.
Doug: I agree with you on all counts. Lott’s hiring practices will be a topic for discussion at noon today (post is already written), so check it out.
Tom: I will be very surprised if any charges go beyond Don Buie alone. If you’re right, it will be a happy surprise.
I agree with Doug that the Herald and others are trying to say Downtown is “fixed”.
Hopefully, there will be enough on Buie to convince him to sing. I’m waiting to see who else is under the covers.
Jack,
I don’t know that it will go anywhere either, but I’m going on gut instinct here.