ATLANTA — Atlanta Inspector General Shannon K. Manigualt was not placed on administrative leave, according to the chairperson of the board overseeing the Office of Inspector General. In a message shared with Channel 2 Action News, Manigault said she was going on a brief leave, but not placed on one by any other city officials.
“Contrary to recent reports, Inspector General Shannon Manigault has not been placed on administrative leave. She continues to serve in her role with full authority and is actively working for the Office of the Inspector General,” said Chair Nichola R. Hines, Chair of the Governing Board of the Office of the Inspector General and the Ethics Office, in a statement.
On Monday, the Atlanta Mayor’s Office said Manigault, and the OIG more broadly, had issued at least 50 improper subpoenas for financial records in violation of state law and was sued.
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While city officials said Manigault was moving to revise office policy to correct this issue, the lawsuit was still filed two days after.
A full copy of the letter from Hines shared with Channel 2 Action News and sent to Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta City Council reads:
“It is disappointing and deeply concerning that misinformation has been shared about the Inspector General’s decision to take a few days off. To be absolutely clear, the Inspector General is not on administrative leave, and the Governing Board has not formally taken action regarding her status. Furthermore, the Board has not met since our January meeting, making any suggestion of official action false and misleading.
It is particularly troubling and disheartening that this information was shared with only 11 individuals, yet it has somehow been publicly misrepresented. It is unacceptable that an employee’s routine time off has been turned into a public spectacle. This misrepresentation damages the reputation of the Office of Inspector General and undermines confidence in the integrity of the oversight process.
As Chair of the Governing Board, I want to make it unequivocally clear that any statements suggesting otherwise are inaccurate. Moving forward, I expect any inquiries regarding Board decisions or personnel matters to be directed to the Governing Board before being publicly mischaracterized. This office’s credibility depends on fact-based, responsible communication, and it is important that any information shared is accurate and handled professionally.
I’d like to ask that you approach this matter with the discretion it deserves to avoid further confusion or unnecessary speculation. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
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