Atlanta's inspector general resigns from office amid Council vote
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Shannon Manigault announced her resignation as inspector general for the city of Atlanta. Photo: Riley Bunch/Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Citing "sustained and savage" attacks from City Hall, Atlanta inspector general Shannon Manigault announced her resignation from her position Monday, capping off several months of tension between the watchdog and Mayor Andre Dickens' administration.
Why it matters: The Office of Inspector General was created in 2020 to combat corruption and waste in City Hall after a bribery scandal resulted in city officials going to prison.
- Following several high-profile investigations and complaints from some city employees about the office's tactics, Dickens wanted to revisit how the inspector general could root out wrongdoing.
Driving the news: Flanked by supporters including former City Council president Felicia Moore, Manigault told reporters Monday that she and her staff have been bullied and threatened "at the hands of people who have been the subjects of our investigations."
- "Pure and simple, it's retaliation," she said.
Context: Manigault's announcement came hours before the City Council approved sweeping legislation that updates policies covering investigators' access to city-owned and personal electronic devices and employees' rights when being questioned.
What they're saying: Manigault said the legislation later approved 14-1 — Atlanta City Council member Liliana Bakhtiari was the lone opposing vote — "is going to destroy the office. I know it. You know it. And [city officials] know it."
The other side: The Dickens administration, which did not address Manigault's allegations, thanked her for her service. The mayor's office also said it's looking "forward to working with a new inspector general."
- "The city will continue advancing policies and practices that reinforce public trust and protect taxpayer resources, while also ensuring all oversight efforts respect the rights of our employees and are conducted with fairness, transparency and accordance to the law."
Catch up quick: The ordinance was drafted months after a task force created to review the office's operations released its recommendations for revising the agency's responsibilities and limits.
- Representatives from organizations like the Southern Center for Human Rights and the Center for Civic Innovation said during public comment that the legislation was flawed and urged more public input.
- Several city employees also spoke about what they characterized as alleged abuses of power by Manigault.
Between the lines: Manigault's resignation comes two weeks after City Attorney Patrise Perkins-Hooker sent a cease-and-desist letter stating that disclaimers on about 50 subpoenas issued by her office violated Georgia law.
- At least one person, Bernie Tokarz, a lobbyist who Manigault recommended be prohibited from doing business with the city, filed a federal lawsuit alleging his constitutional rights were violated when his bank records were unlawfully obtained.
What we're watching: When the Office of Inspector General's governing board will begin the search for Manigault's replacement.