Georgia: Nunn campaign linked to ACORN-like voter registration schemes

Georgia Democrat Michelle Nunn’s campaign was linked to liberal organizations whose ACORN-like campaign tactics are under investigation by Georgia Attorney General Brian P. Kemp.

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“In recent weeks there have been multiple reports in the media regarding the Office of the Secretary of State’s investigation into the New Georgia Project and its parent Third Sector Development, some containing false information,” Kemp said in a Sept. 18 statement.

“Yesterday, the State Elections Board unanimously affirmed our intent to fully investigate these possible criminal violations,” he said.

Kemp said claim by The New Georgia Project, led by Nunn confidante Atlanta state Rep. Stacy Abrams, that the 25 forged voter registration forms it turned into were flagged by the NGP as suspicious.

The campaign of Republican David Perdue raised serious questions about the potential voter fraud case.

“The serious allegations of illegal activities and potential fraud from liberal voter registration groups are outrageous and should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law,” said Megan Whittemore, a spokeswoman for the Perdue campaign. “As outlined in Michelle Nunn’s well-documented campaign plan, since Democrats cannot win on the issues they are aggressively trying to expand the electorate by any means necessary.”

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Whittemore said Abrams is the key to the plot.

State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D.-Atlanta), the leader of the New Georgia Project and a personal advisor to Michelle Nunn, the Democrat running for Senate. (WSB-TV screenshot)
State Rep. Stacey Abrams (D.-Atlanta), the leader of the New Georgia Project and a personal advisor to Michelle Nunn, the Democrat running for Senate. (WSB-TV screenshot)

“The fact that an organization led by a well-known Nunn supporter would attempt to illegally register voters is unacceptable and reminiscent of the Obama-political machine’s ACORN scandal,” she said.

“There is nothing more fundamental to our democratic process than maintaining the integrity of our elections and any attempt to tamper with them is deplorable,” she said. “It is a travesty for Michelle Nunn and her liberal allies to use what they claim to be a non-partisan group to engage in partisan politics to try to steal an election.”

In a Sept. 9 report by Lori Geary on Atlanta’s WSB-TV, Kemp said he has received complaints about campaign irregularities by NGP from all over the state. “At least six counties, had complained about multiple instances, so that’s a lot.”

There are now investigations in 13 Georgia counties.

Kemp told WSB-TV he issued subpoenas to NGP for documents relating to its voter registration drives.

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Because the New Georgia Project is operated by Third Sector Development, a 501(c)(3) committee, is does not have to disclose its donor and it banned from partisan politics.

Despite the restrictions on its political activities, Abrams told Roll Call that the group’s project to register 800,000 new voters is tied to supporting the Nunn campaign.

Abrams has also met with Jon Carson, executive director of Organizing for Action, the legacy of the Obama for America campaign organization, to plot with him how to help the Nunn campaign.

The spokesman for NGP, Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, the senior pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, was part of the Sept. 8 voter registration drive rally, organized by the Nunn campaign, where First Lady Michelle Obama was the featured speaker.

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