Who's Behind the Mystery Money Attacking Georgia's Lt. Governor?
In Georgia politics, a mysterious group is pouring big money into attacking Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Known as "Georgians for Integrity," they have spent around $5 million on ads, mailers, and texts. The ads accuse Jones of using his office to enrich himself. But who is behind this group? No one knows.
Ads Everywhere
The ads have been everywhere since Thanksgiving, especially during football games. They are part of the heated race for the Republican nomination for governor. But they also highlight how secret money is changing politics, not just in national races but also in state elections.
Jones Fights Back
Jones is furious. He claims the ads are full of lies and has threatened to sue TV stations if they don't stop airing them. But so far, the ads keep running.
Rivals Deny Involvement
Jones' rivals, Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, say they're not involved. All three want to replace Gov. Brian Kemp, who can't run again due to term limits. There are also Democrats in the race.
Republican Party Files Complaint
The Georgia Republican Party has filed a complaint, saying the ads break campaign finance laws because the group isn't disclosing its donors. The party's chairman, Josh McKoon, warns that letting this go unchecked has big consequences.
Dark Money in Politics
This isn't new. Since the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010, secret money has been flowing into elections. Shanna Ports, a lawyer with the Campaign Legal Center, says dark money is now normal in races at all levels.
Attacks on Jones Aren't New
The attacks on Jones aren't new either. Carr has been saying similar things for months. But things got more serious after "Georgians for Integrity" was created in Delaware. The group is set up as a nonprofit, meaning it doesn't have to reveal its donors.
Jones Denies Allegations
Jones' campaign says the ads are misleading. They claim Jones helped his family's business by using his office, but Jones says that's not true. He did vote for a law in 2017 that changed how land taken by the government could be used, but he says it's not connected to a big data center development.
Group's Records Reveal Little
The group's records don't reveal much. Their address is a mailbox in Atlanta, and the people listed on their paperwork haven't responded to questions. No one knows where the money is coming from.
Republican Party Demands Transparency
The Republican Party says the group should have to follow campaign finance laws. But the group argues the ads aren't about an election. They just want people to call Jones and tell him to stop "profiting off taxpayers." McKoon says that's just wordplay and the ads are clearly trying to influence voters.
