ATLANTA, Georgia – Georgia state lawmakers have issued subpoenas compelling Stacey Abrams, along with two of her close professional associates, to appear before the Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations. The subpoenas relate to what state investigators have termed one of the most significant campaign finance breaches in Georgia's history, centered on organizations founded by Abrams. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the State Capitol in Atlanta.
"The people of Georgia deserve to know who was involved, what decisions were made and how millions of dollars flowed through organizations that admitted to violating our campaign finance laws." — Sen. Greg Dolezal, Vice Chairman, Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations
Lauren Groh-Wargo, chief executive officer of Fair Fight Action and a senior Abrams adviser, also received a subpoena. Nsé Ufot, who previously served as the top executive at the New Georgia Project, was similarly ordered to appear. The inquiry focuses primarily on the New Georgia Project and its affiliated Action Fund, both launched by Abrams with the stated goal of increasing voter participation among non-white Georgians. Abrams had argued these efforts were a response to what she characterized as "voter suppression" by state Republicans, a claim she made without providing supporting evidence.
However, a different narrative emerged from the organizations' financial records, according to state investigators. The Georgia Ethics Commission determined that neither the New Georgia Project nor its Action Fund registered as independent campaign committees, a requirement under state law. Beyond these registration failures, investigators uncovered approximately $4.2 million in unreported contributions and roughly $3.2 million in undisclosed expenditures. This money primarily flowed in support of Abrams' 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
In January of last year, the Georgia Ethics Commission levied a record $300,000 fine against the organizations for these violations. This penalty marked the largest campaign finance sanction in the commission's history. The groups subsequently admitted to 16 separate violations of state law.
The financial controversies extended beyond these initial findings. Fair Fight Action, another organization founded by Abrams in 2018, also accumulated significant fiscal challenges. This group similarly rallied around the theme of "voter suppression," targeting voter ID laws, the removal of inactive voters from registration rolls, and Georgia's "exact match" system, which flags voter applications with clerical discrepancies.
Between 2019 and 2020, Fair Fight Action directed $9.4 million to the law firm Lawrence & Bundy. Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, the firm’s principal, held dual roles as a close personal friend of Abrams and the chairwoman of her campaign. The lawsuit pursued by Lawrence & Bundy against the state on Fair Fight's behalf largely concluded in failure. By the time the legal battle ended, total fees for the litigation had surpassed $39 million between 2019 and 2021.
The financial strain on Fair Fight Action continued to mount. By 2024, the organization reportedly carried $2.5 million in debt against only $1.9 million in available cash. These mounting shortfalls, driven in large part by years of heavy legal spending against both the state and election integrity groups, led to the termination of three-quarters of the organization's staff. The New Georgia Project itself ultimately ceased operations, formally dissolving in 2025 after its financial and legal troubles became insurmountable.
The Georgia Senate Special Committee on Investigations, which had previously spent two years probing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, expanded its scope to include the New Georgia Project matter after the Ethics Commission finalized its settlement with the organizations. Republican state Senator Greg Dolezal, the committee’s vice chairman, articulated the panel's objectives clearly. “The people of Georgia deserve to know who was involved, what decisions were made and how millions of dollars flowed through organizations that admitted to violating our campaign finance laws,” Dolezal stated.
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones echoed calls for accountability, asserting, “No one is above the law in Georgia. When organizations secretly spend millions to influence elections while evading disclosure requirements, it undermines confidence in our democratic process. The Senate will continue pursuing the truth and ensuring accountability, regardless of political party or influence.”
Committee Chairman Senator Bill Cowsert emphasized the committee’s mission to uphold the integrity of the political process. “The Ethics Commission uncovered what it described as one of the most significant campaign finance violations in state history. Our committee intends to determine who was responsible and whether additional reforms or enforcement mechanisms are necessary to protect the public trust and prevent this from ever happening again,” Cowsert explained.
Abrams has publicly pushed back against the subpoena, characterizing the hearing as "partisan" and "performative." She claimed it was designed to “intimidate and disarm voting rights advocates across Georgia and the nation.” While she stated her intention to appear, she indicated it would only be “on a mutually agreeable date.” Lawmakers anticipate additional hearings and witness testimony in the coming weeks as the investigation continues.
