Councilwoman tries to remove Swindall tarnish
July 28, 2009 at 4:54 pm by Scott Henry in News
Apparently, Joyce Sheperd is concerned that some Pat Swindall sleaze may have rubbed off on her.
At last night’s NPU-Z meeting (what, you weren’t there?), the Atlanta Councilwoman took a moment’s break from taking about tax allocation districts and upcoming park events to distance herself from the crooked ex-Congressman.
Last month, as you may recall, Swindall was indicted for making illegal contributions to Sheperd’s 2005 re-election campaign. He and a business partner allegedly used “straw” donors to help funnel $8,000 to Sheperd’s campaign. Then, in 2007, Swindall’s partner, Bruce Richardson, allegedly told her about the $8,000 and began pressuring her for help on some zoning matter.
Sheperd says she immediately reported the shenanigans to Fulton DA Paul Howard, who launched a two-year investigation of the allegations.
Swindall, of course, is best known as the Bible-thumping, right-wing Georgia Congressman who spent a year behind bars in the mid-’90s for lying to the feds about his connection to a money-laundering racket. In recent years, he’d become known as a downtown property owner and landlord. Even the DA’s office rents space in one of his buildings.
So, even though no one had brought up the subject last night, Sheperd felt she had to explain that she hadn’t knowingly accepted money from Swindall and wasn’t involved in any wrong-doing.
“I had to pay a lot of money to a lawyer” to make sure she was handling the situation properly, she said, adding that she had appeared before a grand jury and been cleared of any implications that she had colluded with Swindall. Still, she said, some people who want to hurt her politically are going around spreading rumors that Sheperd herself is under investigation.
Hmm, now who could she possibly be talking about?
July 28th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Well duh! Joyce took that money and she is trying to cover her bases because she has a strong challenger. Joyce took that money to beat Boazman. In fact, Joyce took alot of development money. So why is it that her district look like the pits. Good luck in jail Joyce…the feds are coming. Oh by the way..when will you return the $8,000…inquiring minds want to know.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:50 am
When will Joyce return the $8,000?
July 29th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Well, Sheperd has said she’ll return the money, but that she’s a little short right now.
And District 12 has always looked crappy. That’ll take a while to change.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Take the money, do the bidding of the donor, get caught, promise to give back the money (in the future, provided someone reminds you). Is that the type of ethics we want in the City? I should have said: That is the type of ethics we have in the City. Why is no one ever held accountable? Where are our leaders? Where are our standards? Enough is enough!!!
July 29th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Let Joyce Be Your Voice…for about $8,000 that is. Joyce Sheperd=Corruption. Good job Joyce…the district looks great.
August 9th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Did the $8K “refund” pay for her political friends to picnic at Perkerson Park last week?
August 12th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Didnt Creative Loafing endorse crooked Joyce over Derrick Boazman. Great job Scott. The district sucks and more businesses have closed down or fled on Joyce’s leadership. Get a Rope!
August 25th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Anyone that lives in District 12 is intimately aware of the illegal tactics that Joyce Sheperd has used to fund raise. The following businesses have been victims of Ms. Shepherd’s pay to pay dealings Metropolitan Bedding, Larry Wilensky, Lee Tire, former Jucks Bar Grill (Extorted out of business), Metro Fitness, Victory Church, and Airport Chevrolet (Extorted out of business). CL if you want to be taken serious in the endordement business DO YOUR HOMEWORK and ask the community what we think. We may be on the Southside, but not all of us are stupid.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:15 am
Joyce Sheperd is a sneaky and conniving snake! She is a nasty, phony, vindictive elected official. Sadly the good people in her district are often left behind. Just look at the very street she lives on Metropolitan Blvd. This street has lost businesses since she has been in office. She also ruined the Perkerson Park Christmas Lights Event which was great for our neighborhood. Please Gloria Tinubu (or anybody at this point) return to politics and help us take back our community from a insecure crook(Joyce Sheperd)and snake oil salesmen(Derrick Boazeman).