Stacey Abrams’ nonprofit, Fair Fight Action, has funneled a jaw-dropping $20.2 million to a law firm tied to her longtime pal over just a few years.
This isn’t pocket change; it’s the kind of number that makes you wonder what kind of “voting rights” work costs that much. Let’s unpack this financial puzzle with a skeptical eye, but a fair mind.
The Daily Caller reported that Fair Fight Action, a group Abrams founded to champion voting rights in Georgia, paid out $20,201,857 to Lawrence & Bundy between 2019 and 2023 for what tax filings describe simply as “legal services.”
Now, who’s behind Lawrence & Bundy? None other than Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, a close friend of Abrams since their college days and the chair of her gubernatorial campaigns in 2018 and 2022. If that doesn’t raise an eyebrow about potential conflicts of interest, I’m not sure what will.
Lawrence-Hardy, who described her bond with Abrams as being “very good friends” in a 2022 Politico interview, isn’t just a casual acquaintance. That kind of personal connection makes you wonder if Fair Fight Action’s governing rule—stating it won’t operate for anyone’s financial gain—got lost in translation.
Let’s rewind to 2018, when Lawrence-Hardy’s firm represented Fair Fight Action in a lawsuit against Georgia, claiming the election system discriminated based on race.
The case, which dragged on for years, was ultimately tossed out by a judge in 2022 as baseless. Turns out, not every legal battle is a winner, but the bills still piled up.
Those legal expenses didn’t come cheap, contributing to Fair Fight Action’s $2.5 million debt by 2024, which forced staff layoffs. It’s a tough spot for an organization meant to fight for voters, not fight off creditors. You’ve got to ask: Was this the best use of donor funds?
Abrams isn’t new to financial controversies with her nonprofits. Take Third Sector Development, a voter registration outfit she founded, which has been slapped with multiple tax liens in Georgia. That’s not exactly the track record of fiscal responsibility that conservatives value.
Then there’s the New Georgia Project, another advocacy group tied to Abrams, which got hit with a $300,000 fine by the state for failing to disclose campaign spending on her behalf.
Transparency seems to be in short supply here, and that’s a problem for anyone who believes in accountability.
Even Fair Fight Action itself faced an IRS complaint in 2019 from a watchdog group alleging it was more about boosting Abrams’ political ambitions than protecting voting rights. While no final ruling is noted, the accusation alone adds fuel to the skepticism fire. Are we funding a cause or a career?
Adding to the mix, the Biden administration drew heat for steering billions in taxpayer dollars to a coalition of groups that included Fair Count, yet another Abrams-linked entity.
For those of us wary of government overreach, this smells like public funds potentially padding private agendas. It’s a fair question to ask, even if the full details remain murky.
Meanwhile, Abrams has pointed to what she calls racist voter suppression as the reason for her 2018 gubernatorial loss in Georgia.
While every voter should have a fair shot, pinning a loss on systemic bias without winning in court leaves some of us unconvinced. The narrative is compelling, but the evidence seems lacking.
Now, with reports from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution suggesting Abrams might be eyeing a third run for governor, these financial entanglements take on extra weight. Voters deserve leaders whose priorities aren’t clouded by questionable money moves. Will this history follow her to the ballot box?
Back to that $20.2 million payment—neither Abrams’ press team nor Lawrence-Hardy responded to requests for comment on the matter. Silence isn’t exactly a reassuring answer when millions are on the line. If there’s nothing to hide, why not explain?