Comment on Ethics board lifts stay, clears way for prosecution of Augusta House member

Possible criminal charges and hefty fines on hiatus during the legislative session return to haunt state Rep. Earnest Smith after a Thursday decision by the state ethics commission. The Georgia Government Transparency and Campaign Finance Commission voted Thursday to lift a stay in effect during the session that had given Smith an opportunity to document or correct numerous issues that gave rise to a record-setting 93 violations of campaign finance laws. read more