FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020
BREAKING: WARNOCK-TIED VOTER GROUP, UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR FRAUD, TOOK MASSIVE PPP LOAN
ATLANTA – New data reveals that the group formerly led by Raphael Warnock and currently led by Stacey Abrams got a massive loan from the Paycheck Protection Program earlier this year — despite Warnock, Abrams, and Jon Ossoff attacking the relief program for months.
Data shows that the New Georgia Project received a total of $482,000 from the PPP — more than four times the program's average loan size. This follows last week's news that the group is currently under investigation by the Georgia Secretary of State for illegally registering out-of-state voters.
"For months, Raphael Warnock and Stacey Abrams have attacked and opposed the Paycheck Protection Program to score cheap political points — yet they had no problem using it to fuel their illegal voter registration scheme," said Deputy Campaign Manager Stephen Lawson. "Warnock, Abrams, and the New Georgia Project must give Georgians a full accounting of exactly how this money was spent and why they received four times the average amount. Georgia families and businesses are struggling and, given that the New Georgia Project is already under investigation, anything less is completely unacceptable."
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BACKGROUND:
The New Georgia Project got a $482,000 loan from the Paycheck Protection Program. ("Warnock Voter-Registration Group Received $482,000 in PPP Loans," Washington Free Beacon, 12/08/2020)
Warnock has criticized PPP loan distribution, saying it should not be used by groups that are "politically well-connected." ("Jobs: Rebuilding An Economy That Works For Everyone," Warnock for Georgia, accessed 12/08/2020.)
From 2014-2020, Warnock Served as Spokesman, CEO, and “Board Chair” of New Georgia Project, an Organization Founded by Stacey Abrams and Dedicated to Registering Minority Voters (“Massive voter registration drive in Georgia fights voter suppression,” Facing South Magazine, 10/16/2014; “AJC Election Central; Voter probe ignites debate,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/12/2014; New Georgia Project, Inc. Business Formation, Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division, Filed 5/31/ 2017; New Georgia Project, Inc., 2017 Form 990, Filed 5/30/2019; “Board chair named at the New Georgia Project,” The New Georgia Project Press Release, 6/8/2017)
The New Yorker Reported that Abrams Received a Salary of $177,000 as Part- Time CEO of New Georgia Project – Atlanta Journal-Constitution Reported that Abrams Had Pocketed $442,000 over Three Years from Her Nonprofits, Including New Georgia Project, and Used the Foundations to Build the Infrastructure for Her 2018 Gubernatorial Campaign In 2019, The New Yorker profiled Stacey Abrams and her fight for voting rights. The article noted that Abrams as a part-time CEO of the New Georgia Project received a salary of $177,000. In 2018, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Abrams received a total of $442,000 in compensation over three years from her non-profit foundations, including New Georgia Project, and had used the foundations to build the infrastructure for her gubernatorial campaign in 2018. (“The Vote Next Time,” The New Yorker, 8/19/2019; Alan Judd, “Voter drive raised millions, but Abrams won’t say from whom,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/15/2018)
George Soros and His Son, Alexander Soros, Helped Finance the New Georgia Project In October 2019, the Washington Post profiled Stacey Abrams’ political career after she announced she would not run for U.S. Senate in Georgia. The article noted that billionaire Democratic mega-donor George Soros and his son Alexander Soros helped finance Abrams’ New Georgia Project, stating “It drew funding from billionaire George Soros and his son Alexander, Abrams has said.” (“Abrams plans her future amid pressure of expectations,” Washington Post, 5/5/2019)
In September 2014, then-Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp Opened an Investigation into the New Georgia Project over Voter Registration Fraud Allegations – a Preliminary Inquiry Found “Significant Illegal Activities” The preliminary inquiry found “significant illegal activities” including: "forged voter registration applications, forged signatures on releases allowing for photocopying of applications, applications with inaccurate or false information, applications completed or "forged" after telephone conversations between voters and the project's representatives, voters being told they were legally required to re-register to vote, voters being told they needed to apply for a voter identification card because they could not use a driver's license when voting." (“AJC Election Central; Voter drive faces fraud allegations,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/11/2014)
In September 2014, the State Election Board Agreed to Hear the Voter Registration Fraud Case – the State Probe Found 28 Forged Documents with 26 More Considered Suspicious. As part of the investigation, then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp issued a subpoena to the New Georgia Project. In September 2014, the Augusta Chronicle reported that the state probe into New Georgia Project voter registrations application found a total of 28 forged documents with 26 more considered suspicious. (“AJC Election Central; Voter registration case to be heard,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/16/2014; Christina A. Cassidy, “28 forged documents uncovered in probe of Georgia voter registration group, investigator says,” Augusta Chronicle, 9/17/2014)
In September 2017, the State Election Board Unanimously Recommended Criminal Charges against 17 Former New Georgia Project Canvassers Meeting minutes from the State Election Board’s September 20, 2017 meeting show that the Board unanimously voted to recommend the criminal charges against 17 former New Georgia Project canvassers. (Alan Judd, “Voter drive raised millions, but Abrams won’t say from whom,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 9/15/2018; State Election Board, Item j.) SEB Case No. 2014-014 New Georgia Project - Voter Registration, Passed 5-0, 9/20/2017)
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Stephen Lawson
Deputy Campaign Manager
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Paid for by Georgians for Kelly Loeffler
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