GBI finishes probe into Sen. Balfour's expenses

As of Thursday, January 10, 2013
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

Don Balfour

ATLANTA — Attorney General Sam Olens must now decide whether to pursue charges against a state senator who illegally claimed expense pay.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation spokesman John Bankhead said agents turned over their investigative file on state Sen. Don Balfour to Olens' office on Dec. 14. Prosecutors must decide whether to seek criminal charges against the Snellville Republican.

In August, Balfour agreed to pay a $5,000 fine for accepting pay for in-state work and travel on days that he was outside of Georgia. Lawmakers can only get that pay if they are conducting official business inside the state. They can claim expenses when traveling outside Georgia if they are part of an official delegation approved in advance.

Balfour has said that he inadvertently made mistakes.

More like this story

GBI investigates state Sen. Balfour's expenses ( September 11, 2012 )
Balfour to pay $5,000 to settle ethics case ( August 16, 2012 )
Oversight weak on expense system for lawmakers ( September 8, 2012 )
Ethics committee finds cause in Balfour case ( June 1, 2012 )
State Sen. Balfour returns $800 after expenses questioned ( April 4, 2012 )

Linda 5 months, 1 week ago

He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and forced to give up his seat in the state legistature. What a scumbag and shame on the people that voted for him. He is supposed to be serving the people and he is robbing them.

pcjohn 5 months, 1 week ago

But here in Georgia that is what politicians do. He'll probably get a promotion.

kevin 5 months, 1 week ago

What is there to decide Mr. AG? Do your job or get voted out. If a politician does something illegal, he gets jail time. Enforce our laws or amend them to make sure they get jail time. Are you going to protect politicians from criminal justice? Yes or No?

SuxBeanU 5 months, 1 week ago

Okay, now that that's out of the way , go ahead and bury the evidence. Like Kennerly and Bannister, he'll just walk away.

pcjohn 5 months, 1 week ago

Those guys walked away because we have a girlie DA who won't touch a dirty cop or politician. And we keep voting this wastrel back in office. That's what you get when your County has a one-party system, regardless of the party.

Coolray 5 months, 1 week ago

he will not be proscuted because of the "r" behind his name.

pcjohn 5 months, 1 week ago

Roger that,Coolray.

kevin 5 months ago

I know why they call this "office" the GBI. Georgia Blew It.

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