Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor has been indicted by a grand jury on two felony counts of destroying public records and two counts of violating her oath of office, after allegedly ordering a court employee to destroy records tied to passport application fees she personally retained.
The July 31 indictment comes after an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) revealed that Taylor instructed a staff member “to Donald Trump this thing,” referring to the records in question.
The phrase, used in relation to the destruction of official government documents, is central to the case now being prosecuted by the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, which took over following the Cobb County District Attorney’s recusal.
“Georgians deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr. “Any attempts to conceal or destroy government records are serious allegations that cannot be ignored, and those responsible will be held accountable.”
Taylor’s alleged misconduct centers on her handling of passport fees, which an Atlanta News First investigation previously revealed could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for Georgia clerks due to a legal loophole. Records show Taylor collected more than $220,000 in passport-related fees in 2021 alone.
Although state law permits clerks to retain certain fees, expedited shipping fees are not included—yet Taylor was previously ordered to reimburse over $83,000 to the county for improperly retained funds.
In a 2022 letter, attorney Stacey Evans—representing the whistleblower—detailed how Taylor chastised the worker for inquiring about how the passport funds should be allocated. According to Evans, Taylor claimed the fees were “her money” and stated she would not produce related records, even telling the employee they would “get rid” of them.
The GBI launched a criminal inquiry based on those allegations and submitted its investigative file to the Attorney General’s office for review earlier this year. The indictment is the first official criminal charge against Taylor in connection with that inquiry.
GBI Director Chris Hosey emphasized the gravity of the case, stating, “The intentional destruction of public records is a serious offense that undermines transparency and public trust.”
Taylor, who was re-elected to office in November 2024, serves as one of Georgia’s four constitutionally mandated county officers. As such, her office operates independently from the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.
In a public statement, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office confirmed its recusal, saying:
“We recognize the significance and understand the public’s concern, however, we are not involved in this prosecution. Our office remains focused on fulfilling our responsibilities and serving the people of Cobb County with integrity and impartiality.”
The Cobb County Board of Commissioners also weighed in, noting that while Taylor is independently elected, the county remains committed to maintaining public trust:
“Regardless of the outcome, Cobb County is committed to ensuring residents continue to receive efficient and effective services through the Clerk of Superior Court’s office.”
Taylor’s case is shaping up to be a significant test of public accountability and transparency in local government. A trial date has not yet been set.
