City councilman faces fines for violating state campaign laws

ATLANTA — Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond is facing $58,000 in fines for hundreds of violations of the state's campaign finance laws.

He claims his health problems contributed to the issue.

Channel 2 investigative reporter Richard Belcher dug through Bond's records from more than a year ago and found a long list of obvious inconsistencies.

But that word doesn't begin to explain the extent of the misconduct documented by the state, including the use of campaign contributions to pay personal utilities bills and car insurance.

The veteran Atlanta City councilman must have known what awaited him. State ethics commission staff had been on his case for more than a year, at one point issuing a subpoena for bank records.

The findings were devastating.

“All of them, with the exception of a couple, were made out to cash,” said commission staff attorney Bethany Whetzel.

Whetzel gave a PowerPoint presentation detailing the six years of abuses that she has documented, including 314 new campaign law violations involving more than $61,000.

The investigation found more than $6,100 in illegal spending for personal uses, such as car insurance premiums and home utility bills.

The recommendation was to fine Bond with $58,000 in fines and penalties.

Commission executive secretary Stefan Ritter says the penalty could have been far greater.

“We're not overreaching on this. This is a very conservative proposal,” Ritter told Belcher.

Bond accepted responsibility but repeatedly said he is in failing health and losing his sight.

“You know, I’m frankly embarrassed that I'm in this position. And I am, and I apologize to the public for having coming to this. But I have struggled personally, and I always thought that I could overcome it,” Bond said.

“I'm sorry about your medical condition. I'm very sorry, but this is just a blatant disregard of these laws,” said commission chairman Lawton Jordan. “I think you need to ask yourself if you should be in public office.”

The commission voted to send the case to the attorney general's office to begin preparations for an administrative trial.

Bond has 60 days to agree to a settlement, but he made it clear he can't come up with $58,000. He says he's working in full cooperation with the commission to ensure compliance.

The commission can reduce the penalty or agree to a payment plan.

Cox Media Group