Long-serving Georgia district attorney is charged with bribery after he ‘sexually harassed a top female staffer

Donald Richard ‘Dick’ Donovan is also accused of trying to pay off a prosecutor to drop shoplifting charges against the same staffer

Paulding County DA, Dick Donovan, 75, was arrested on Monday, before he posted a $2,500 bond and was released

He is charged with four felony counts including bribery and false swearing

It followed an investigation of sexual harassment claim by Jaime White, a victims advocate in his office who filed a harassment suit against Donovan in 2019

White’s civil suit was settled for $300,000 in January 2020, but Donovan has denied any wrongdoing

Prosecutors say Donovan lied under oath in the case and attempted a bribe

While the DA Donovan claims he never suggested having sex to White or made overtures, the complainant turned over text and audio evidence to investigators buttressing her case

As an elected official Donvan cant not be summarily fired, but state Gov Brian Kemp has the power to suspend Donovan as district attorney if a committee appointed by the governor deems it necessary

Kemp has appointed the committee that is currently reviewing the indictment against Donovan

A district attorney in Georgia has been charged with bribery and other counts in an investigation stemming from his alleged sexual harassment of a female employee.
Donald Richard ‘Dick’ Donovan, 75, surrendered for arrest on Monday in Paulding County, where he is charged with false swearing, bribery, and two counts of violation of oath by an officer.
A warrant was issued for his arrest Thursday, giving him a deadline of Tuesday at noon to turn himself in. Donovan was in custody shortly before 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Donovan, who has been the district attorney of Paulding County since 2010, was charged following an investigation that stemmed from a sexual harassment suit filed in 2019 by Jaime White, who worked as a victim advocate in his office.
Jamie White, Paulding County’s victim-witness coordinator, says in the lawsuit that Donovan repeatedly bought her gifts, kissed her, told her he loved her and said he wanted to have sex.
The lawsuit accused Donovan of making several unwanted advances against White between 2017 and 2019, including allegedly describing his sexual fantasies about her in detail. 
White said she made a formal complaint to the county in April, but the allegations have not been addressed.
“Since Plaintiff made her formal complaint, DA Donovan has refused to speak to Plaintiff and used other managers in the office to circumvent her authority and supervisory responsibilities,” the lawsuit states.
“The retaliation has added to an already extremely hostile work environment.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigated the matter, and said that Donovan refuted the claims in the lawsuit in a sworn affidavit.
His denial is the basis of the false swearing charge.
‘I have never suggested we have sex, I have never offered to have sex with her, I have never said I wanted to have sex with her, I have never tried to have sex with her.
‘I have never touched her anywhere that was inappropriate,’ Donovan said in an affidavit, the AJC, reports.
In direct contradiction to the affidavit, the complainant, Jaime White, provided audio tapes and written notes to investigators, prosecutors say. 

The indictment alleges Donovan lied when he denied ‘ever having said that he wanted to have sex’ with her and that he lied when he denied ‘describing his fantasies desiring to be physical’ with the woman. 
The bribery charge against Donovan relates to allegations that he tried to bribe a prosecutor to drop shoplifting charges against White.
The indictment also alleges Donovan violated his oath of office when he committed bribery. 
White claimed in a discrimination complaint that Donovan repeatedly told her he was in love with her and forced her to sit in lengthy private meetings with him. 
Donovan’s behavior toward her, White said, caused her ‘anxiety, shame and emotional distress.’  
White’s civil suit was settled for $300,000 in January 2020. Donovan has denied any wrongdoing. 

The bribery charge against Donovan relates to allegations that he tried to bribe a prosecutor to drop shoplifting charges against the female employee.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has the power to suspend Donovan as district attorney if a committee appointed by the governor deems it necessary.
The committee is currently reviewing the indictment against Donovan.