Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams is facing renewed questions regarding her financial history, as recent tax filings reveal her voting rights advocacy group, Fair Fight Action, paid over $20 million to a law firm founded by her close friend and former campaign chair, Allegra Lawrence-Hardy.
Between 2019 and 2023, Fair Fight Action reportedly paid approximately $20.2 million to Lawrence & Bundy for unspecified “legal services.”
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Allegra Lawrence-Hardy, who chaired both of Abrams’ unsuccessful gubernatorial campaigns in 2018 and 2022, established and worked for the firm until her departure in February. This information, initially reported by RealClearInvestigations, has raised eyebrows given Fair Fight Action’s governing documents, which state the organization “will not be operated for the pecuniary gain or profit of any individual.”
Lawrence-Hardy has publicly acknowledged her close friendship with Abrams, stemming from their college years and early careers at an Atlanta-based law firm.
A significant portion of these legal expenditures appears to be linked to a 2018 lawsuit Fair Fight Action filed against the state of Georgia, alleging racial discrimination in the election system. Lawrence & Bundy represented Fair Fight Action in this case. However, a judge found the lawsuit’s claims baseless in 2022, and the case was subsequently closed.
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The mounting legal expenses from this and other activities reportedly contributed to Fair Fight Action accumulating $2.5 million in debt by 2024, leading to staff layoffs, as reported by The New York Times.
This is not the first time Abrams’ non-profit endeavors have drawn scrutiny. Third Sector Development, a voter registration group she founded, has faced multiple tax liens in Georgia.
Another of her voter advocacy groups, New Georgia Project, was hit with a $300,000 fine from the state in January for failing to disclose money spent on her campaign. Furthermore, a watchdog group filed an IRS complaint against Fair Fight Action in 2019, alleging the group was illegally promoting Abrams’ political career under the guise of a voting rights cause.
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Adding to the financial questions, the Biden administration previously faced criticism for allocating billions of taxpayer dollars to a coalition of groups that included Fair Count, another organization linked to Abrams.
The revelations come as The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported in April that Stacey Abrams is weighing a third run for governor, potentially bringing her financial practices further into the political spotlight.
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