David Wickert

@dwickert

David Wickert is a reporter covering state government for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Atlanta, GA

Joined February 2009

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House Republicans have recently proposed enfeebling their own watchdog. Party lawmakers unveiled legislation to halve the office’s budget for next fiscal year, potentially decimating its staff while stripping away some of its power to oversee spending. nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/…

dwickert's tweet card. Republicans are seeking to undermine the Government Accountability Office as it investigates, and considers suing, over the Trump administration’s withholding federal funds.

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David Wickert Retweeted

Greg Bluestein@bluestein · Jul 22

The Georgia GOP is refunding more than $36k in contributions from First Liberty founder Brant Frost IV and his family after his firm was accused of a $140M Ponzi scheme. Chair Josh McKoon said the check was sent to a federally-appointed receiver helping to recoup investor funds.

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David Wickert Retweeted

Greg Bluestein@bluestein · 13 h

An @AJC analysis shows the Frost family and its companies made more than $1 million in campaign contributions before federal authorities stepped in. ajc.com/politics/2025/…

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David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 25

ICYMI: Trump ally no longer believes Kemp, Raffensperger should be prosecuted ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. Bill White, President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to Belgium, was a prominent advocate for founding a new city out of Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 25

ICYMI: How an alleged Georgia Ponzi scheme fueled far-right causes ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. A review of campaign finance transactions shows Brant Frost IV, his family and his companies have given roughly $711,000 to Republican candidates and conservative causes.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 25

ICYMI: Kemp tells Georgia agencies not to expect more money in coming year ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. The governor’s budget office has directed agencies to prepare amended fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027 budgets with no spending increases.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 24

John King exits Senate race amid push by Kemp to shape the field ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. Gov. Brian Kemp is making a late push to help lay the groundwork for former football coach Derek Dooley’s U.S. Senate bid — directly telling Insurance Commissioner John King and U.S. Reps. Mike...

David Wickert Retweeted

Caleb Groves@calebbgroves · Jul 24

Expected budget cuts may further slow Georgia’s unemployment claim process ajc.com/politics/2025/…

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 24

A push by some Republicans to eliminate the Georgia income tax continues to gain steam ahead of next year's election. ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. Get the latest updates and analysis on the Georgia races for U.S. Senate and governor — the battleground state's most hotly contested races.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 24

ajc.com/politics/2025/…

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 24

Who received donations from First Liberty, the Frosts and their companies? ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. A list of those who received donations from the more than $1.4 million given by Brant Frost IV, his family, his companies and the Georgia Republican Assembly PAC.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 23

First Liberty sold faith and MAGA loyalty. How conservative media helped. ajc.com/news/2025/07/f…

dwickert's tweet card. On-air pitches framed the investments in First Liberty business loans as part of the “patriot economy.”

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 23

Trump ally no longer believes Kemp, Raffensperger should be prosecuted ajc.com/politics/2025/…

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 22

Trump ally no longer believes Kemp, Raffensperger should be prosecuted ajc.com/politics/2025/…

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David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 22

As First Liberty empire crumbles, new lawsuit seeks class action status ajc.com/business/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. The complaint, which seeks class action status, adds to the growing web of civil and regulatory scrutiny surrounding First Liberty Building & Loan.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 21

Ethics commission dismisses complaint over Burt Jones’ $10M loan ajc.com/politics/2025/…

dwickert's tweet card. The Georgia State Ethics Commission dismissed the complaint from Attorney General Chris Carr's gubernatorial campaign.

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 21

How an alleged Georgia Ponzi scheme fueled far-right causes ajc.com/politics/2025/…

David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 21

Who is First Liberty founder Brant Frost IV? ajc.com/news/2025/07/w…

dwickert's tweet card. Who is First Liberty founder Brant Frost IV? His family promised investors a “patriot economy” grounded in Christian faith. Authorities say Frost engineered a Ponzi scheme.

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David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 21

We found nearly 1,000 contributions in 38 states since 2002, with $1.1 millions going to candidates and committees since 2021. ajc.com/politics/2025/…

GGreg Bluestein@bluestein · Jul 21

The Frost family used nearly $1.4 million in campaign contributions, much of it allegedly swindled from investors, to build political clout in Georgia and across the nation over the past two decades, an @ajc analysis shows. #gapol ajc.com/politics/2025/…

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David Wickert@dwickert · Jul 21

Kemp's instructions come as states brace for the fallout from President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” which passed Congress earlier this month. That bill is expected to have a dramatic impact on state budgets. ajc.com/politics/2025/…