Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard is facing a second state investigation, this one involving her campaign.
GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard – already under GBI investigation – now finds herself facing new allegations.
Georgian Government Commission for Transparency and Campaign Finance filed a lawsuit accusing the longtime lawmaker of failing to provide key campaign and financial information, not just for 2022, but for every year since 2018.
“Most elected officials are good enough to get them filed,” said Joe Cusack, deputy general counsel for the commission. “So it’s pretty rare to see an office holder or someone who’s been in the office for many years screw up those documents.”
Woodard, who is also a lawyer, took office in 2008.
The first offense is punishable by a fine of $1,000. Each additional account could be $10,000.
Hall County attorney charged with ignoring campaign finance laws
Hall County Solicitor General Stephanie Woodard is already under investigation by GBI and now finds herself charged with failing to disclose key financial information from 2018.
Records show Woodard has spent little to no money on campaigns in recent years because she has had no opposition. But the law still requires regular reporting. Fines for these violations could be paid from campaign funds.
But if the allegations turn out to be true, Woodard would be personally subject to fines for not submitting financial disclosure statements each year – documents showing all business interests and sources of income.
Cusack explained that these annual filings are designed to protect all Georgians.
“They can ensure that no public official takes action that will essentially benefit their wallet,” he said.
Woodard did not respond to our attempts to comment, both by email and during a visit to his office.
Rick Farmer says he’s already made his statement to the GBI. He cremated the notary’s dog. She submitted the $190 bill for reimbursement. Hall County wrote him a check.
Combine this new investigation with an older and much more serious one.
Sources inside the Hall County Courthouse said multiple GBI officers spent several hours Monday executing a search warrant for records from Woodard’s office.
- The state’s attorney general ordered the GBI investigation based on what the FOX 5 I-Team uncovered in October: thousands of public dollars earmarked for crime victims instead spent by Woodard on questionable purchases:
- The cremation of his dog.
- A family member’s LSAT app.
- Expensive headphones.
- Shopping at antique shops. Plus, many other purchases with no clear indication that a victim was actually helped.
Woodard has already refunded about $2,000 of that money, saying those expenses were submitted in error.
We also discovered thousands of dollars spent at area restaurants for Woodard and his staff. Often the lawyer would claim that the meals were for “training”.
Rick Farmer is the owner of precious memories, the pet crematorium that cared for Woodard’s dog. Farmer said he had already made his statement to the GBI.
“They’re serious about it,” he said.
The GBI is also interested in Woodard’s decision to file duplicate expense reports with Hall County and the Council of Prosecutors, essentially getting reimbursed twice for the same expenses incurred at PAC’s annual summer conference.
Despite the criminal investigation, Woodard stays on the job. And in this month’s general election, she garnered 63,397 unopposed votes for her fourth full term as Hall County Solicitor General.