Atlanta officials have asked federal and state authorities to “disregard” a letter from the city’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) concerning open investigations.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, City Attorney Patrise Perkins-Hooker wrote a letter to law enforcement agencies asking them not to act on the investigations, labeling the senders as “disgruntled” former employees.
Perkins-Hooker said the OIG employee’s decision to detail the investigations was fueled by the resignation of former Inspector General Shannon Manigault.
The city attorney said the allegations will continue to be investigated by the office under the leadership of interim Inspector General LaDawn Blackett.
The group of senior employees from the OIG sent a five-page letter to federal and state authorities on March 3 detailing eight ongoing criminal investigations initiated by the office.
The staff requested whistleblower protection, citing concerns over retaliation and referencing recent legislation passed by the Atlanta City Council that limits the OIG’s ability to conduct criminal investigations.
The letter was addressed to various authorities, including the Department of Justice, FBI, Georgia Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The letter highlights multiple investigations involving high-ranking city officials, including advisers to Mayor Andre Dickens, department heads, and public safety leaders.
Allegations include misconduct in awarding contracts to political donors, funneling money to organizations linked to city staff, and pressuring union members during negotiations.
One investigation involves payments related to Atlanta’s bid for the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC), where the OIG found evidence suggesting improper coordination of a $2 million payment through a nonprofit, Choose Atlanta 2024, to secure an industry group’s agreement to move its event from the World Congress Center to make it available for the DNC.
The mayor’s office rejected the accusations, stating the investigations had found no wrongdoing. The mayor’s office also criticized the release of information regarding active investigations, calling it unethical and potentially illegal,
The letter comes after the resignation of former Inspector General Shannon Manigault, who claimed that her office faced threats, bullying, and retaliation from city officials during its investigations.
Dickens appointed an interim inspector general, LaDawn Blackett, which has also raised controversy.
During the March 3 Atlanta City Council meeting, former Council President Felicia Moore said Dickens had violated the city charter by appointing Blackett.
“The mayor has no authority to appoint anyone to take over an independent investigative office, and especially one that has active and ongoing investigations related to the highest rungs of city government,” Moore said during public comment.
Interim IG Blackett said in a statement to Rough Draft:
“I am aware of the memorandum from both current and former members of the Inspector General’s Office. My priority is to get this office back on track. Any ongoing investigations will be reviewed within the office’s authority, but I will not be commenting on them at this time until I have conducted a thorough and comprehensive review.”
Dyana Bagby contributed to this report.
