Cobb County court clerk charged with destroying public records

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - The superior court clerk who allegedly told an employee to “Donald Trump” a series of documents related to her retention of passport application fees has been indicted on charges she violated her oath of office.

In a July 31 indictment, Cobb County Superior Court Clerk Connie Taylor is facing two counts of destruction of public records and two counts of violating her oath of office.

Taylor is alleged to have instructed a court worker to destroy documents related to her retention of passport fees. In her words, Taylor commanded the worker “to Donald Trump this thing.”

“Georgians deserve honesty and transparency from their elected officials, and anything less undermines public trust,” Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr said. “Any attempts to conceal or destroy government records are serious allegations that cannot be ignored, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) opened an inquiry into the case following the worker’s allegations.

“The intentional destruction of public records is a serious offense that undermines transparency and public trust,” GBI Director Chris Hosey said. “We remain committed to working alongside our local, state, and federal partners to ensure accountability and uphold the integrity of government operations across Georgia.”

An Atlanta News First investigation uncovered how Taylor and other superior court clerks are allowed to pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars in passport processing fees because of a loophole in Georgia law. Taylor collected more than $220,000 in 2021 in those fees.

Earlier this year, Taylor agreed to reimburse the county more than $83,000 after being accused of collecting expedited shipping fees, which clerks are not allowed to keep.

In a Nov. 17, 2022 letter, attorney Stacey Evans alleged Taylor “chastised” the worker for asking how she wished to allocate passport funds in an email.

As she attempted to learn more about Taylor’s plans for the fees, Evans said Taylor stated the passport fees were “her money;” refused to provide any records related to her predecessor’s collection of passport fees; would tell reporters they did not have any related documents; and stated her office would “get rid” of related records, adding, “We’re just going to Donald Trump this thing.”

The GBI gave its case file to the Georgia Attorney General’s Office for prosecutorial review on March 14, 2024.

Taylor was reelected to her position in November 2024.

Evans, who is representing the worker, is a former Democratic state lawmaker and ran for governor in the 2018 Georgia Democratic gubernatorial primary.

“The Clerk of Superior Court is one of four constitutional officers established by the Georgia Constitution and is elected directly by the voters,” according to a statement from the Cobb board of commissioners. “As such, the office operates independently and is not under the direct authority of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners.

“We respect the judicial process and will allow it to run its course. 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.”

In a statement, the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office said it has recused itself from the case and Carr’s office has “full oversight and prosecutorial responsibility for the investigation and resulting actions.”

“We recognize the significance and understand the public’s concern, however, we are not involved in this prosecution,” the district attorney’s office said. “Our office remains focused on fulfilling our responsibilities and serving the people of Cobb County with integrity and impartiality.”

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