Grand jury alleges destruction of public records amid controversy over six-figure passport income; lawmakers move to close loophole
The legal case against Democrat Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor has returned to center stage following a second grand jury indictment, renewing questions not only about alleged document destruction, but about how an elected official was able to personally collect hundreds of thousands of dollars while using public resources — and what happened when the public asked to see the records.
At the heart of the case is a long-standing but controversial provision in Georgia law that allowed clerks of court to personally retain passport processing fees — a practice lawmakers now concede was poorly understood, lightly monitored, and ripe for abuse.
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A Timeline of the Controversy
November 2020 — Taylor Elected
Democrat Connie Taylor is elected Clerk of Superior Court in Cobb County, assuming responsibility for court records, finances, and statutory duties.
2021–2022 — Passport Fees Pile Up
Taylor’s office processes thousands of U.S. passport applications. Under Georgia law at the time, clerks were permitted to personally retain the $35 passport execution fee.
Financial records later revealed Taylor collected well over $200,000 in passport-related income during one year alone — in addition to her public salary exceeding $170,000.
Critics questioned why county staff, facilities, and equipment were being used to generate personal income for an elected official, with little public disclosure.
October 2022 — Open Records Request Filed
A Georgia Open Records Act request is submitted seeking emails and financial documentation related to Taylor’s passport fee collections.
Late 2022 — Alleged Destruction of Records
According to investigators, Taylor directed an employee to delete emails and electronic files related to passport revenue after the records request was received.
A whistleblower later reported that Taylor insisted the passport money was “her money” and suggested the records did not need to be preserved.
November 2022 — GBI Investigation Begins
A Cobb County judge refers the matter to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, citing concerns over record handling and compliance with open records law.
2023 — Legislature Moves to Act
Amid growing scrutiny, Georgia lawmakers advance reform legislation targeting passport fee practices.
Senate Bill 19 requires clerks to:
- Quarterly disclose passport fee income
- Publicly report how the money is handled
During debate, State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick (R-Marietta) said passport processing occurs:
“On county property, using county resources and county staff,”
adding that transparency was necessary even if the practice itself had once been legal.
Some lawmakers proposed banning clerks from personally keeping passport fees altogether, but the final law focused on disclosure rather than prohibition.
February 2025 — Partial Repayment
Taylor agrees to repay more than $83,000 to Cobb County related to expedited shipping fees, which clerks are not legally allowed to retain under any circumstance.
July 31, 2025 — Second Indictment
A Cobb County grand jury returns a four-count indictment charging Taylor with:
- Two counts of Destruction of Public Records
- Two counts of Violation of Oath of Office
The indictment alleges Taylor knowingly caused public records to be destroyed in response to a lawful records request and violated her sworn duties as clerk.
Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said:
“Georgians deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials, and anything less undermines public trust.”
GBI Director Chris Hosey added:
“The intentional destruction of public records undermines transparency and public trust in government.”
August 2025 — Governor Suspends Taylor
Governor Brian Kemp suspends Taylor from office. In his executive order summarizing the indictment, Kemp states the charges “adversely affect the administration of the office” and harm public confidence.
The Unanswered Questions
Why was so much money allowed in the first place?
Georgia’s passport fee statute dates back decades and allowed clerks to personally keep execution fees, even as salaries rose and passport volume increased dramatically.
Lawmakers now acknowledge the law failed to account for modern realities — where public employees and taxpayer-funded offices perform nearly all the work.
If the conduct was legal, why destroy records?
This question looms largest.
Investigators allege records were deleted after an open records request was filed — a clear violation if proven.
Transparency advocates argue that if Taylor believed her actions were lawful, producing the records would have resolved the issue quickly.
What does Taylor say?
Taylor has declined substantive public comment since the indictment.
However, clerks and attorneys defending the practice statewide have repeatedly stated during legislative hearings:
“We’ve done nothing illegal.”
A Case With Statewide Impact
Taylor is presumed innocent, and the case will be decided in court. But regardless of outcome, the controversy has already changed Georgia law and exposed how loosely regulated financial practices inside public offices had become.
More Related Cobb Voice Articles:
From Efficiency to Embarrassment: The Downfall of Cobb County’s Court System Under Connie Taylor
Cobb County’s New Real Estate Filing System is a Major Disaster for Property Rights
Editorial: Cobb’s Courts Need a Change
Superior Court Clerk Employee Turnover Responsible for Unnecessary Warrants against Citizens
Chief Judge Declares Judicial Emergency Due To Failures by Cobb County Superior Court Clerk’s Office
Crisis in the Cobb Clerk’s Office: Republican Candidate Deborah Dance’s Plan to Restore Integrity in Cobb County
