The wife of a Georgia county commissioner is facing criminal charges after she allegedly poured a drink on a reporter during a public budget meeting.
Jason Winters, who serves as Chattooga County Commissioner, was sitting around a table discussing the country's finances when his wife Abbey stood up and poured a cup of fountain soda on the head of Casie Bryant, who is a reporter for AllOnGeorgia.
Winters appeared shocked by his wife's actions and just muttered, "oh my God" while nodding his head in disbelief.
"I'm sick of it," Abbey can be heard saying in a video of the incident. "She brought it on herself."
"By saying he went to France," Bryant asked in response.
After the incident, the Winters left the meeting and went to meet with their lawyer. Abbey told investigators that she tripped and spilled the drink by accident. Witnesses disputed her account, and she was charged with disorderly conduct and simple battery, both misdemeanors.
While officials have not said why Abbey poured a soda on Bryant's head, WTVC reports that the dispute stemmed over allegations that Jason had used county money to pay for his honeymoon for France. A follower on Bryant's Facebook page reportedly asked her to investigate the alleged misuse of public funds. It is unclear if Bryant was investigating the claims, but another reporter told the news station that the allegations appear to be unfounded.
"I don’t know of a single commission, municipality, or board of education, probably nationwide, that is immune to rumors about financial impropriety. As a journalist, you try to track those down when handed an allegation," Jason Espy, an investigative reporter from the Summerville News, said. "So when the claim was posted on social media Thursday night that Chattooga’s sole commissioner used county funds to pay for his honeymoon, that was a first. So far, this newspaper hasn’t found a single shred of truth to this rumor. Looks to be malicious gossip."
Photo: Chattooga County Sheriff's Office