Long addressed the accusations during a short sermon Sunday and also reminded his congregation that it was election season. “It’s election time in Georgia,” Long said Sunday. “We cannot be distracted and not go to the polls.”
Barnes and Long were scheduled to host a fundraiser together last week, but an agreement to cancel the event was reached by both parties. Barnes was unavailable for comment and a request for comment with his press office has gone un-returned.
Long has a long history of speaking out against LGBT rights and held a march through downtown Atlanta in 2004 that had more than 20,000 participants.
The report also highlights other candidates and elected officials who received political donations from Long, including Michael Thurmound, Thurbert Baker, Max Cleland and Maxine Waters.
Barnes also said that because the lawsuits were accusations at this point, his campaign would accept future donations from Long.
Michael Thurmond, the state’s Labor Commissioner, is running against current Senator Johnny Isakson for one of Georgia’s two U.S. Senate seats. We called Thurmond’s office and left a message but also received no comment.
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