February 18, 2025
Manigault argued that the oversight invoice would jeopardize the OIG’s capability to research.
Atlanta’s Inspector Normal Shannon Manigault resigned hours earlier than town council voted to restrict her powers.
Manigault swiftly left the place forward of the vote on Feb. 17. In her resignation, she claimed that interference and intimidation from metropolis officers led to the choice.
“I’ve come to the extremely troublesome determination to resign as Inspector Normal of the Metropolis of Atlanta,” Manigault stated within the information convention as reported by Fox 5. “I’ve confronted threats, bullying, intimidation, and harassment by the hands of people that have been the topics of our investigations.”
The Atlanta Metropolis Council accredited the oversight invoice that will restrict the Workplace of Inspector Normal’s subpoena energy and entry to metropolis information. Nonetheless, Manigault and her supporters did warn of the significance of the OIG remaining unbiased with out a mayoral board.
Upon the information, the workplace of Andre Dickens launched an announcement thanking Manigault for her service.
“We thank the Inspector Normal for her service to the Metropolis of Atlanta,” the spokesperson stated in an e-mail. “We stay up for working with a brand new Inspector Normal and an unbiased board within the close to future.”
Nonetheless, the 2 had been on opposing sides concerning implementing an oversight committee for the OIG. The workplace was established in 2020 following corruption scandals involving former Mayor Kasim Reed.
Manigault spoke publicly about her opposition to the proposal, stating that it may stifle their capability to fight corruption.
“Nonetheless a lot the folks of town of Atlanta need us to be right here and need us to do our job, metropolis administration has made it crystal clear. For them, an actual, functioning, efficient Workplace of the Inspector Normal isn’t welcome in Atlanta,” expressed Manigault beforehand.
Manigault said, “It takes the extra step of making a mayoral board. So proper now, the board of the inspector normal and the language within the constitution says the board is there to make sure the independence of the workplace. That mannequin is a superb one and one which has been lauded by different cities.”
Regardless of this, Manigault additionally confronted warmth over metropolis officers’ claims that she issued subpoenas violating Georgia legislation. Nonetheless, she claimed her workforce lacked information of those necessities in time, furthering her claims of interference. Nonetheless, the allegations led to the requires suspension.
Manigault took depart earlier this month, forward of her resignation, however claims it was her personal determination.
“I wanted to take a while to step away and replicate and are available to grips with all the things that these folks have been doing to me. And that’s how I’ve come to the extremely troublesome determination to resign as Inspector Normal of the Metropolis of Atlanta,” she stated in her resignation announcement.
Nonetheless, some metropolis officers have known as Manigault a “rogue prosecutor” whose tenure prompted the creation of a governing board to supervise operations. Mayor Dickens additionally supported the board’s institution, emphasizing that the OIG and the Mayor’s workplace should work to remain inside the legislation.
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