人兽性交

Despite an ethics policy that bans even the appearance of a conflict of interest and requires 鈥渨ritten approval鈥� for waivers, two Kemp staffers 鈥� when asked by Hatewatch 鈥� said the governor鈥檚 office had no written record of Hughes鈥� conflict-of-interest disclosure.

Kemp鈥檚 press office told Hatewatch that senior staff in the administration knew of and approved Hughes鈥� activity. The relationship between Hughes, Frontline Policy Action and the Georgia Baptist Mission Board鈥檚 (GBMB) committee on public affairs raises questions about how the governor鈥檚 office enforces its ethics policy.

Frontline and GBMB are staples at the state Capitol and have lobbied Kemp and the state Legislature to adopt several far-right policies in recent years. Hatewatch previously reported on questions surrounding Frontline鈥檚 lobbying disclosures in the state.

Attending lobbying meetings

Hughes is not registered as a lobbyist in Georgia. In fact, he is employed as Kemp鈥檚 director of field operations, a position in which he manages interaction between the governor鈥檚 office and people across the state. Hughes has held the position since the start of Kemp鈥檚 administration in 2019, according to the governor鈥檚 office and state finance records.

But Hughes wears many hats. He is a board member of the anti-人兽性交+ hate group Frontline Policy Council and its lobbying arm, Frontline Policy Action. He also serves as chair of the public affairs committee for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, the lobbying arm of the state鈥檚 largest Baptist denomination. In 2019, he became publisher and editor of the Early County News, a Blakely, Georgia, newspaper in which he regularly authors a column. Hughes did not respond to an emailed request for comment.

Hughes, though, has written in his newspaper column about his policy advocacy, his work with Frontline and his relationship with Kemp.

In a Sept. 21, 2021, editorial, Hughes about hosting a Frontline event in Atlanta. 鈥淚鈥檓 forced to battle Atlanta far too often,鈥� Hughes wrote. 鈥淭he idea of staying there for a weekend is repulsive.鈥� In the article, Hughes described Frontline as a 鈥減olitical organization fighting for Christian values in state government鈥� and said, 鈥淚 serve on the board of that organization.鈥�

In an editorial published a week later, Hughes lauded his boss. 鈥淲ith Brian Kemp as governor, you have a rural Georgia advocate, defender and supporter in the State Capitol fighting for the things that matter to YOU!鈥� Hughes . 鈥淵ou might allege I am saying this because he is my boss,鈥� Hughes writes, responding that 鈥淚 have never been afraid to speak my mind and that is one of the reasons I have a job in the Kemp administration.鈥�

In an April 2022 editorial, Hughes : 鈥淚鈥檝e worked for their [Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp鈥檚] family. I鈥檝e spent time in their home. I鈥檝e traveled with them. I鈥檝e eaten with them. I prayed with them. I鈥檝e argued with them. I鈥檝e cried with them. I鈥檝e laughed with them. I鈥檝e shared my life with the Kemp family.鈥�

In a March 2023 editorial, Hughes a 鈥渃onversation in the State Capitol when I was advocating for a policy helpful to rural Southwest [REAL] Georgia,鈥� and in a November 2022 editorial, Hughes that 鈥渕any of us were at the office late in the evenings鈥� in the 鈥渆arly days of the Kemp administration.鈥�

When asked via email to comment on Hughes鈥� role as field director, Kemp鈥檚 press secretary, Garrison Douglas, said: 鈥淢r. Hughes coordinates and manages engagement with groups and individuals. He also provides operational and scheduling support for our office as we engage with people on location throughout the State.鈥� But, Douglas said, 鈥淢r. Hughes does not participate or play a role in policy development.鈥�

Hatewatch previously reported on a series of emails between Kemp鈥檚 office and representatives of Frontline, GBMB and other conservative groups in the state. Prior to meeting with Kemp in 2022 and 2023, Frontline鈥檚 president, Cole Muzio, and GBMB鈥檚 registered lobbyist, Mike Griffin, sent emails listing multiple bills, laws or policies the groups wanted to discuss with the governor, including legislation to restrict abortion and the participation of transgender kids in public school sports.

In describing the purpose of the meetings, Muzio said in a Feb. 17, 2022, email that copied Hughes, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 helpful when we are all together to make sure we are all on the same page regarding these issues.鈥� The email referenced five bills, by number, to discuss.

According to emails exchanged between Griffin and Kemp鈥檚 schedulers leading up to the meeting the following year, Griffin identifies Hughes as 鈥淕overnor Kemp鈥檚 Staff Member and Chairman of the GBMB Public Affairs Committee鈥� who would attend the upcoming meeting between the groups and the governor. That email also identified eight pieces of legislation the group wanted to discuss with the governor.

In a Feb. 2, 2023, message to Griffin and Hughes, Kemp鈥檚 scheduler advised them the governor would leave early, but Kemp鈥檚 policy director would 鈥渉ave the appropriate policy staff continue the conversation immediately following鈥� the governor鈥檚 departure.

A picture shared by Frontline Policy Action on Facebook after the event confirms Hughes鈥�, Muzio鈥檚 and Kemp鈥檚 attendance at the Feb. 15, 2023, meeting.

Georgia Baptist Mission Board did not respond to emailed requests for comment.

Frontline endorsed Hughes鈥� boss

In 2022, Frontline Policy Action endorsed Brian Kemp for governor during his reelection campaign and spent money to help ensure his victory. According to the group鈥檚 articles of incorporation on file with the Georgia secretary of state, the 鈥渃ontrol and management of the affairs of the corporation and the disposition of its funds and property shall be solely vested in the Board of Directors,鈥� which includes Brad Hughes.

A 2022 blog post featuring a list of candidates supported by Frontline indicated that it is selective when making endorsements, only 鈥済et[ting] involved anytime there is a choice that stands about all the rest.鈥�

鈥淔rontline Policy Action does not endorse in every race,鈥� the group said.

In September 2022, Frontline released a voter guide for the gubernatorial election comparing Kemp and challenger Stacey Abrams. The guide was published in two languages and includes the text 鈥淧aid for by Frontline Policy Action鈥� at the bottom.

A review of Frontline鈥檚 social media activity shows that between Oct. 12 and Nov. 9, 2022, Frontline Policy Action funded 11 Facebook ads. Three of the ads supported Kemp or Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

The group鈥檚 spending on the platform was estimated at less than $100 for each Kemp-Jones ad, according to Facebook advertising data. The estimate does not include production costs.

One ad by Frontline Policy Action appearing between Oct. 19 and Nov. 8, 2022, featured a 30-second campaign video produced by Frontline Policy Action with photos of Kemp and Jones and a caption that read, 鈥淰ote Kemp Jones November 8鈥� as a voiceover implored, 鈥淟et鈥檚 keep them fighting for fairness.鈥� The video includes the caption 鈥淧aid for by Frontline Policy Action.鈥� Another ad that featured a photo of Kemp and the caption 鈥減rotect Georgia values鈥� reached an estimated 15,000-20,000 adults in the state.

The group spent over $400 to share another Facebook ad that reached an estimated 125,000-150,000 adults in the state, according to Facebook鈥檚 data. The ad, which ran from Oct. 12 to Nov. 9, 2022, featured a picture of Abrams with the caption 鈥淵ou can help keep D.C. out of Georgia.鈥�

A search of Frontline Policy Action鈥檚 campaign finance reports in 2022 shows the group reported one cash expenditure in support of Kemp鈥檚 reelection that year. The report, which was last amended in an October 2022 filing, shows the group spent $125 with Austin, Texas-based Resolve Campaigns LLC. According to the filing, the May 5, 2022, expenditure was for an 鈥渆ndorsement graphic鈥� to support Kemp in the gubernatorial primary election.

According to state campaign finance records, in 2022, Frontline Policy Action disclosed no campaign expenditures with a transaction date after the end of May.

After Kemp won reelection, in a December 2022 editorial in the Early County News 鈥� in which he has a weekly column 鈥� Muzio wrote, 鈥淲e survived the greatest threat to freedom our state has known in the modern era 鈥� Stacey Abrams.鈥�

Frontline鈥檚 lobbying and spending to support Kemp鈥檚 reelection suggests Hughes had a professional conflict. Neither Hughes nor Kemp鈥檚 office responded to emailed questions seeking comment about allegations of a conflict of interest.

Governor鈥檚 office ethics policy

The governor鈥檚 ethics says employees 鈥渟hall avoid conflicts of interest and shall make every effort to avoid a conflict of interest.鈥� An appearance of conflict is defined as 鈥渨hen a reasonable person would conclude from the totality of the circumstances that the employee鈥檚 ability to protect the public interest, or perform public duties, is compromised by personal interests.鈥�

Ethics guidelines implemented by Kemp require state employees who have 鈥渙ngoing matters before the employee鈥檚 respective agency鈥� to sign a . According to the governor鈥檚 website, 鈥淓ach employee must complete and return the Attestation [form] by June 30, 2021.鈥�

Employees are also 鈥渞esponsible for updating and supplementing 鈥� the information contained within the disclosures and informing the agency ethics officer of any changed or new circumstances or potential conflicts at the time they arise鈥� [emphasis in the original], according to the Department of Administrative Services website.

In addition to disclosing potential conflicts, state employees may be required to recuse themselves in 鈥渟ituations where such a conflict exists or where the employee鈥檚 impartiality might reasonably be questioned due to his or her relationship with a person or entity participating in a matter before the employee鈥檚 agency.鈥�

In an email to Hatewatch, a Georgia public records officer said Hughes鈥� 鈥渄isclosure of his [GBMB and Frontline] board service was not required to be in writing under the applicable provisions of the Ethics Order鈥� and that copies of Hughes鈥� signed conflict-of-interest disclosure form 鈥渄o not exist.鈥�

When asked to clarify, Douglas said Hughes 鈥渁dvised senior staff鈥� of his 鈥渦ncompensated affiliation鈥� with GBMB and Frontline and that it "was approved.鈥� Douglas also told Hatewatch the approval was not required to be in writing.

According to the policy on the Administrative Services website, 鈥淎ll ethics officers report to the Governor鈥檚 Executive Counsel and are required to notify the Executive Counsel of any violation of the Code of Ethics within their respective agencies.鈥� The policy also says that exemptions or waivers for the ethics code may be warranted under 鈥渦nique or compelling circumstances.鈥� In such cases, though, the policy says, 鈥淧rior written approval by the Ethics Officer is required, subject to review by the Executive Counsel.鈥�

The governor鈥檚 executive counsel, Kristyn Long, did not respond directly to a phone message. Instead, a public records officer responding to Hatewatch鈥檚 message for Long confirmed that 鈥減er [Kemp鈥檚] executive order,鈥� Long is also the ethics officer for the Office of the Governor.

The public records officer directed Hatewatch鈥檚 questions about implementation of the ethics policy, including whether Hughes had been granted an exemption by Long, back to the press secretary.

Picture at top: Frontline Policy Action endorsed Brian Kemp for Georgia governor during his reelection campaign in 2022. Emails from a public records request show Kemp鈥檚 field director is affiliated with Frontline Policy Action and has attended policy meetings between the governor and the political group in a possible professional conflict.