Georgia GOP Chairman Debate Exposes Trust Issues and Financial Secrecy Concerns

The contentious GOP chairman debate in Cobb County between Josh McKoon and Cross, spotlights widespread distrust in McKoon’s leadership of the Georgia Republican Party. Critics argue McKoon was elected not to pursue truth about the 2020 election but to shield former chair David Shafer from legal trouble and hide GA GOP financial details, with Rebecca Yardley hinting at potential issues from the prior chair’s tenure. McKoon is accused of aligning with Governor Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rather than challenging the 2020 election narrative, despite no election security bill passing in Georgia’s legislature this year—a first since 2020.
The text challenges readers to check X for posts from GA leadership thanking Tulsi Gabbard for alleging Dominion voting machines altered elections and echoing Donald Trump’s call for paper ballots, reflecting ongoing election integrity debates. McKoon’s claims of transparency and fundraising prowess are met with skepticism, as he reportedly dismisses financial critiques and instills fear of legal repercussions among dissenters. The GA GOP treasurer laments their lack of financial oversight, noting Karen Hetschel’s access to itemized records while the treasurer is sidelined. The last financial audit, from December 2022, is deemed inadequate, and questionable expenses, like $18,784 for a “Lifetime Advisor” in December 2023, are highlighted when counties lack basic resources. With no state committee meeting since August 2024 and limited updates, McKoon wass prioritizing control over openness, deepening party divisions.

The other night they had the GOP chairman debate in Cobb county between McKoon and Cross. McKoon cannot be trusted in Georgia. Challenge you to go to all the X accounts to see if they thank Tulsi Gabbard unearthing at a cabinet meeting that the dominion machines alter the election and reiterate President Trump’s call for paper ballots.
This is the first year since 2020 that an election bill has not passed the GA legislature. The reason that Josh became GA GOP is not to get the truth about the 2020 election, he was never going to go against Kemp and Raffensperger, but to protect finances of the GA GOP. Rebecca Yardley felt that there was something there that could be damaging to the previous chair. There are two reasons that Josh became chair is to keep David Shafer out of jail and to make sure we didn’t see the finances of the GA GOP. Josh said that Karen Henshel has been in the GA GOP for 15 years. Josh makes fun of anyone that makes fun of the GA GOP finances.
Josh talks about unity. Josh tells you that if you want republicans to stand up for republican values then you need to lawyer up. We always have to be in fear. You have to be in fear that an attorney will call you.
Josh talks a lot about fundraising and how amazing he is at fundraising. And that if Cross was elected it is over, it's the scare that he puts out. Josh says that he is transparent and that he is a good steward of the money.
The GA GOP treasure has no role in overseeing or managing party finances. I sign the campaign disclosure reports and put together the most comprehensive treasurer’s report I can when we have a meeting. The last meeting we had was August 2024, and will be working on an update for the state committee meeting in Dalton in June. Josh feels that there is not any pertinent information to be shared to the state committee. It has been 9 months since the last meeting.
We know that Karen Hetschel can see the itemized items but the treasurer cannot. The last audit was done on 12/31/2022 a financial statement audit is of little value to us and internal examination would be of more value.
$18784 paid out from the GA GOP for a Lifetime Advisor on 12/15/2023. What about the county that needed more signs or the counties that cannot get republicans on their board of elections. ERC Tax Credit, lifetime advisors it was closed.