The Atlanta City Council on Monday unanimously voted to advance legislation that establishes clear protocols for the Office of Inspector General.
The move follows a review conducted by the city’s law department, which revealed the OIG office had violated State law at least 50 times by issuing illegal subpoenas.
“The OIG was forced to update their policies after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the City Atto outlining the illegal behavior,” the city said in a statement. “The legislation will move back to the Committee on Council and Full Council in two weeks for final adoption.”
According to Georgia law, any government agency or official that issues a subpoena for an individual’s financial records must provide prior written notice to the individual concerned. This notice requirement ensures transparency and allows individuals to respond to or contest the subpoena before disclosing their private financial information.
Recent findings indicate that the OIG did not adhere to this legal requirement.
The OIG obtained individuals’ financial records without informing them, raising serious concerns about privacy breaches, due process, and liability. The OIG’s subpoena also prohibited companies from notifying account holders, potentially exposing them to liability.
