Secret Tapes Reveal Truth Behind Paulding County DA's Indictment

DALLAS, GA —Paulding County District Attorney Donald Richard "Dick" Donovan is currently suspended from office after being indicted in February by a Paulding County grand jury on charges of bribery, false swearing and violation of oath by a public officer

At the time of Donovan's arrest, an attorney's report to Paulding County indicated there had been recordings of Donovan, 75, that contradicted the denial of accusations he made in a sworn affidavit.

On Friday, the public got to hear those recordings for the first time after 11Alive News in Atlanta obtained the recordings from a law office that represents the Paulding County government through a public records request. There were five audio files, totaling more than 2.5 hours of conversations, according to 11Alive.

Donovan's legal issues began when Jamie White, a former Paulding victim-witness coordinator, filed a complaint in 2019 that said Donovan had sexually harassed her.

According to 11Alive, White began making the recordings in 2017. They were done in Donovan's office and without his knowledge.

One of the more revealing passages contradicts the claims Donovan made under oath in a sworn affidavit in 2019, in which he said "I never suggested we have sex. I have never offered to have sex with (White)."

But the tapes tell a different story.

"I said I was in good health. I'm in perfectly good health. Everything still works. I don't mind telling you everything still works. I'm not out of practice. I can't think of experience I would relish or cherish more than to make love to you,” Donovan said to White.

On the tapes, Donovan is heard multiple times speaking about his feelings for White.

"I'm going to use words you don't like. I love you. I will continue to talk about you whether you talk to me or not," Donovan said on one recording.

In another exchange, Donovan asks White about how she feels about his advances.

"I mean, if you don't want me to tell you I love you, I'll stop doing that. Does that make you uncomfortable?" Donovan asks.

White replies that she doesn't think the treatment is right because they're both married.

In 2019, White was arrested for shoplifting in Polk County. According to the indictment, Donovan attempted to bribe a Cedartown prosecutor into dropping White's shoplifting charge in exchange for dismissing charges against one of the prosecutor's clients.

One of the recordings is of Donovan speaking by phone to White, who called from jail after her arrest.

"I'm the guy who is taking your call … and try to fix it … I did, as far as far as I can tell," White said.

The Georgia Attorney General who indicted Donovan said the Paulding DA was trying to "fix" White's arrest.

According to reports, Donovan turned himself in to authorities on Feb. 22, and was released after posting a $2,950 cash bond. No trial date has been scheduled.

Two days after Donovan's arrest, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order removing Donovan from office until his pending charges are adjudicated, Fox5 Atlanta reported.

11Alive reported that Donovan has kept his salary while he's not working.

In 2020, White received a $300,000 settlement in her sexual harassment claim, with Paulding County and the state of Georgia on the hook for most of it.