Former Fulton County Commissioner Bill Edwards denies breaking any state laws in connection with an $80,000 discrepancy in his campaign reports – but has once again failed to provide documentation that would prove he's done nothing wrong.
The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission launched an investigation of Edwards in July after an Atlanta Journal-Constitution report that uncovered problems with his campaign disclosures. The commission cited several possible violations of state law.
In a formal response filed Tuesday, Edwards denies he has violated any law. But he submitted no bank records or other documents to explain the discrepancy in his campaign records.
Edwards, whose 14 years on the Fulton County Commission ended last December, and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
In March, an investigation by the AJC, Channel 2 Action News and The Georgia News Lab found Edwards did not account for nearly $80,000 in campaign cash.
His campaign disclosure reports showed he had nearly $196,000 in cash on hand in June 2010. In September of that year, Edwards reported having only about $117,000 on hand – nearly $80,000 less. But he reported spending only about $1,500 between June and September, and the missing money is not accounted for in subsequent records.
When asked about it, Edwards provided the news organizations with campaign bank records and pledged to hire an auditor to explain the discrepancy. But the bank records only raised more questions, and Edwards has repeatedly declined to produce the audit.
Edwards later told the news organizations the discrepancy was the result of a simple mistake: His campaign staff inadvertently carried over the wrong totals from one report to another in 2008. But he has refused to provide documents to support his statement.
In its July complaint, the campaign finance commission cited several possible violations of state law. Among them: failing to properly account for the missing $80,000 and spending nearly $14,000 on membership dues and expenses at a downtown business club, which may violate a law requiring contributions to be spent only for campaign purposes.
If the commission confirms violations occurred, Edwards could face thousands of dollars in fines. Criminal charges are possible if the investigation uncovers more serious issues.
In his response to the campaign commission, Edwards says he "has at all times been in compliance with all rules, regulations and directives of the commission," and he says all expenditures were made for campaign purposes. He says any accounting error was corrected in the amended report he submitted earlier this year.
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