Lasseter Says Bribery Was a Common Practice
Former Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter reportedly tells AJC in an interview that developers told her bribing county officials was the way to get business done.
Former Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter has reportedly revealed in an interview with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that bribery was a common practice in Gwinnett County.
Lasseter is slated to enter federal prison soon after pleading guilty and being sentenced to serve 33 months in prison for accepting bribes in 2011 from an undercover FBI agent to approve a proposed development in her commission district.
Developers told her after she took office on the commission in 2009 that making illegal payments to government officials in the county was the way to get business done, according to an Associated Press article citing her interview with the AJC posted on ajc.com Saturday morning.
Lasseter told the AJC that developers reported they made payments to other county commissioners, planning commission members, and zoning board members.
Current Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash is quoted in the article as saying that she did not think that bribery was a normal way of doing business in the county..
Rex Smithers
5:59 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
I feel so sorry for Shirley Lasseter. She was obviously duped into thinking what she did, was normal and necessary to help the community. Everyone does this.
Good God! Just another scumbag, crooked politician looking out for number one. Apparently she was a great parent as well. We know this by watching her son follow in her corrupt footsteps. These people can burn in hell for all I care.
Amy Jellicoe
11:40 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012
She's not the first & won't be the last.
Rex Smithers
12:18 am on Sunday, October 21, 2012
Amy, what is your point? Your comment seems to suggest that her actions are acceptable as she is just doing what everyone else does. Please expound.