https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt–politics/court-filing-shows-doj-heavy-scrutiny-former-city-atlanta-cfo/xhDiCqasteI0tMkG5r6UVN/
Federal prosecutors have siezed the cell phone of the wife of the former top financial officer for the City of Atlanta, summoned his step-daughter to testify before the grand jury and issued subpoenas for his bank records, according to a recent motion filed in federal court.
The motion, filed by Jim Beard’s lawyer, acknowledges that the former chief financial officer is one of “numerous apparent subjects” of an ongoing U.S. Department of Justice corruption investigation into the administration of former Mayor Kasim Reed.
At its core, the 23-page filing involves a legal dispute over attorney-client privilege, but it also gives a rare glimpse inside the government’s intense investigaiton of a man who once oversaw how the city spent billions of dollars — some of which Beard used to purchase fully automatic assualt rifles and other firearms.
The motion, filed by attorney Scott Grubman, claims the government sent FBI agents to the home of Beard’s minor son in Gainsville, Florida, to ask if Beard paid child support.
The document also says agents have questioned many of Beard’s friends and acquaintances “at their homes or places of employment to ask completely irrelevant questions regarding Mr. Beard’s personal relationships.”
It also says that the FBI issued a subpoena to Facebook for Beard’s social media posts.
In the motion, Grubman asks for a court order barring prosecutors from reviewing emails from Beard’s private AOL account during his time in office. He also seeks to disqualify the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Georgia from investigating Beard.
>“Despite not having been charged with, let alone convicted of, a crime, the government has engaged in a campaign of repeated harassment and intimidation that has caused Mr. Beard great financial and personal harm,” the motion said.
IDK what to think. Is this guy a victim like Flynn or is he guilty or is he both?
What we do know is this dude is part of a criminal investigation.