Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr launched an attack against Republican his primary opponent for governor Thursday, calling for an investigation of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones\u2019 $10 million loan to his own campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn his 2022 financial disclosure, Jones reported a $12 million net worth with only $700,000 in liquid assets,\u201d Carr\u2019s campaign said. \u201cNow he claims to have loaned $10 million to his leadership committee \u2014 14 times what he previously disclosed. Either he misrepresented his finances then or he\u2019s misrepresenting them now, and Georgians deserve the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jones\u2019 camp promptly dismissed the allegation, which was detailed in a complaint to the State Ethics Commission Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot surprised by this weak attempt to get attention \u2014 it\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d expect from a campaign that\u2019s losing steam with many months to go until Election Day,\u201d Jones campaign spokeswoman Kendyl Parker said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carr was the first leading Republican to announce his candidacy. Jones then jumped into the race last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mandatory campaign finance disclosures they filed last week show each raised about $3 million from donors. But Jones \u2014 an executive in a family-owned oil company \u2014 leapt far ahead by adding another $10 million of his own money. He benefits from a 2021 law that allows him to collect unlimited sums due to his role as lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The law authorized so-called leadership committees as fundraising vehicles. The governor also has one, as do legislative leaders. Whoever wins the primaries for governor and lieutenant governor can also have one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n