[Columbus, GA] The Georgia Record has reported extensively on the issue of the Georgia Republican Party, Incorporated [The Corporation] over the last few months.
The issue has risen to the surface due to alleged nefarious activity under the auspices of the corporation which hurt grassroots activists attempting to obtain needed information to run effective campaigns. In addition, alleged nefarious activity during appeals to the state GOP blocked grassroots from gaining power within the party.
Today, at the Georgia GOP Convention in Columbus, multiple sources are telling The Georgia Record that GOP leadership has admitted the corporate structure that has existed for approximately ten years is illegal and against Georgia election law.
According to party sources, former Chairman John Padgett allegedly established the Georgia Republican Party, Inc. in 2014 and moved all assets, and insurance policies into the newly-formed entity. According to records The Georgia Record researched, confirmed by sources within the Georgia GOP, Padgett is the only director of the corporation, and technically is in sole control of party assets. [party officials have access to party accounts but the accounts exist under the corporation, under sole control of Padgett]
Sources have informed that party leadership at the convention told party leaders from around the state the Georgia Republican Party will ‘form a committee’ to merge the two entities, and remove the corporate structure; however, they will only do this 30 days after legal action involving Padgett is complete.
This could take years.
The question is – why is Attorney General Carr not involved? The Georgia Republican Party is acting illegally and against Georgia election code.
This story has national implications.