Bribery, corruption scandal looms over Atlanta mayors race

A guilty plea in federal court and an FBI raid on a long-time city vendor are reshaping the Atlanta mayor’s race by throwing a white-hot spotlight back on the City Hall bribery investigation, just one month before voters choose Kasim Reed’s successor.

Most of the major candidates have weaponized the scandal in their stump speeches and at forums since the federal probe netted a guilty plea from the city’s top purchasing official two weeks ago.

Tough talk on ethics and procurement reform have joined pledges about affordable housing and transportation, issues that were driving the campaign’s early days. The mayor himself has been forced to defend his record and issue regular statements about how he’s cooperating with the probe.

The investigation into pay-to-play contracting was made public in January when construction contractor Elvin “E.R.” Mitchell Jr. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and admitted to paying at least $1 million in exchange for city contracts. A second contractor, Charles P. Richards Jr., pleaded guilty in the scheme in February.

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