Twice failed Democratic candidate for governor of Georgia, Stacey Abrams, has been hit with a massive fine over election law violations from a nonprofit she founded before running for office.
The fine is the largest in state history, according to ethics watchdogs.
The fine amounts to $300,000, which is levied against Abrams and the leaders of the New Georgia Project, is the largest in the commission’s 38-year history, David Emadi, executive director of Georgia’s ethics commission, said.
The figure highlights how the voter registration group plotted to illegally boost Abrams’s long-shot rematch against Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022
Abrams benefited from a host of voter registration activities that targeted minority communities.
Abrams established the New Georgia Project in 2013. Following her 2018 loss, the group capitalized on Abrams’ national recognition to raise $3.2 million, which ultimately led to the election of Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA).
The majority of the group’s bills were paid for canvassers and flyers printed to support Abrams directly.
Aria Branch, counsel to the nonprofit, said in a statement to The New York Post:
“We are glad to finally put this matter behind us so the New Georgia Project can fully devote its time and attention to its efforts to civically engage and register black, brown, and young voters in Georgia.”
“We accept this outcome and are eager to turn the page on activities that took place more than five years ago.”
A spokesman for Sen. Warnock denied he made e financial decisions for the group.
“In this role, Reverend Warnock continued his work as a longtime champion for voting rights. Compliance decisions were not a part of that work,” Warnock spokesperson Michael Brewer told the outlet.
Additionally, the group failed to register as an independent campaign committee, which violated state election laws.
The group committed a total of 16 violations, the ethics commission said.
The New Georgia Project received a slew of donations totaling $646,000 and raised $174,000 to back a failed local referendum, which they were unable to divulge.
However, the group claimed its spending was similar to that of other electoral nonprofits in the run-up to Election Day.
The group also accused the ethics commission of conducting a politicized investigation.
Meanwhile, Gente for Abrams, another outside group, was slapped with a $50,000 fine in 2020 for failing to disclose many of its activities surrounding her 2018 campaign.
