Report: Sam Olens says he’d look at prosecuting APS cheaters
Interesting note on ATLaw, the legal blog run by Ed Bean and the Fulton County Daily Report:
Attorney General Sam Olens told a meeting of the Atlanta Press Club today that he will consider using his office to “take the appropriate action” if local district attorneys choose not to bring charges stemming from the state’s investigation into altered test scores and cheating in Atlanta public schools.
Here’s the specific quote from Olens, via my AJC colleague Willoughby Mariano:
“Many of the individuals have been granted immunity in that report. So neither the D.A.’s nor me would have had opportunity, by the immunity granted, to try and go up higher on the food chain.
“With regard to issues where [a] district attorney chooses not to take such action, I would encourage you to request that that district attorney transfer the file over to our office and we would then take the appropriate action.
“But once again, under Georgia law, I am limited until the district attorney says, ‘I’m recused or I don’t want to touch this issue, I’m sending it to your office.’”
At that point, said Lauren Kane, spokeswoman for Olens, the attorney general could refer to the case to a district attorney in another jurisdiction for prosecution, or assign a member of his staff to the case.
You have to wonder if this might be one instance where a statewide grand jury might be worthwhile.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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67 comments Add your comment
TeachAManToFish
August 4th, 2011
5:32 pm
@ Talented. If you’re going to accuse a southerner of ignorance you might want to spell it right.
Mr Tenine
August 4th, 2011
5:35 pm
Race schmace. They willingly and knowingly STOLE taxpayers money by cheating and then lying about it. End of discussion.
woodrow
August 4th, 2011
5:51 pm
It is illegal to alter these test records. It amazes me how widespread this corruption became. It’s particularly odious that none of the perps seemed to understand the seriousness of this. These are not educators suitable to teach children.
Typical APS Student
August 4th, 2011
6:12 pm
Sheeeeeiiit… maan. Yalls crazzy. We alls took thems tests an pased em fare and skware. You thinks wear all stoopid, butt you dont no anithang. Butt what ever… who cares if we all fale. Obama’s gonna pay for everythang fore us anyhows.
Mallory
August 4th, 2011
6:27 pm
…ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,,,do you really think Paul Howard, Fulton County DA, is going to charge his political friends? He has ignored their misdeeds ever since taking office.
Debby
August 4th, 2011
7:38 pm
Frankly I don’t care how much it costs to prosecute those criminals, I want to see that cow and her minions in mug shots and having to undergo the humiliation of a public trial. I also fail to see how profiting by criminal activity does not have repercussions in the form of taking back bonuses paid them.
Lester Maddox
August 4th, 2011
9:34 pm
Sam’s the one. He can eat in my restaurant anytime.
Grits
August 4th, 2011
9:39 pm
If these cheaters – and I mean they are cheating the students and the state of Georgia must be prosecuted. If they are not I cannot understand why any business would want to bring its employees to a crime based educational system. Georgia is my home state and it greives me to see such a low educational rating.
American Idiot
August 4th, 2011
9:56 pm
It is highly illegal to falsify government documents. It is also highly illegal to profit from that falsification. It is called fraud, and it is a felony. I think the state of Georgia should prosecute these people who knowingly perpetrated this crime if at all possible. I am a teacher in Georgia, and they have tarnished my profession. They are criminals and should be held accountable for their actions.
jerry peters
August 4th, 2011
11:07 pm
I thank God that our youth will at last see that justice system is not blind when it comes to power, politics and race. The APS cheating conspiracy and conver-up are being followed across the nation with hundreds of thousands of educators, citizens and students awaiting an outcome that will be a “teachable moment.”
This matter cannot be dismissed by area ministers meeting to pray with several APS board members and parents. Those guilty of cheating or obstructing the investigation into this matter, must encounter the full wrath of criminal prosecution.
Ellen
August 4th, 2011
11:20 pm
Hey Jerry,
Sorry, but I don’t belive the Chamber, as well as other influencial parties who received favors from Hall and Augustine, will allow justice to prevvail.
vet - pow, '65-'69
August 5th, 2011
12:04 am
“300 rally to support Atlanta Public Schools”
This was an orchestrated event…. The decent, honest, taxpaying citizens refuse to be duped by this ruse!!!!!
Cellularphoniqua
August 5th, 2011
12:56 am
Talented10th
August 4th, 2011
3:57 pm
With all of the racist comments (and mockery of names of the commenters = King’Kong’Quisha (?) ,…”
Mockery? Just shut up cracker! Make fun of a sister’s name, King’Kong’Quisha a fine handle, better’n “Talented10th” any day. Think you appeasin folk talkin that way. Cracker fool.
Susan
August 5th, 2011
2:31 pm
PROSECUTE!!! They defrauded the government, cheated the taxpayers and worst of all, stole a true education from the children. Waller and his cronies should GO TO JAIL!! If our elected leaders do not prosecute, they should be RUN OUT ON A RAIL!!
Top School
August 5th, 2011
3:17 pm
Stand for integrity ethics and honesty …finding the GOOD in faking your way to the TOP again by turning a blind eye and deaf ear is not an honorable position to take. MANY OF US SACRIFICED and laid the path so the NEW APS could take a proper STAND. We remain disappointed in the progress we’ve observed as we prepare for the first day – A NEW WAY?
http://www.TopPublicSchoolCorruptionAtlanta.com
Dalton WhitField
August 6th, 2011
10:18 am
I would like to see Beverly Hall as the first person charged and convicted.
A divide over prosecution in the APS cheating scandal | Political Insider
August 8th, 2011
4:33 pm
[...] Olens made two points. First, he said that the granting of immunity to teachers, principals and some school administrators by state investigators would make it harder to chase down malefactors at the top. [...]