Georgia Power has accused a former Democratic candidate for Georgia’s Public Service Commission (PSC) of stealing trade secrets.
Patty Durand was arrested on Tuesday by Georgia Capitol Police and charged with felony theft, according to
a report from Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB).
A hearing was held regarding “Georgia Power’s request to add two Plant Vogtles’ worth of new power, mostly for data centers,” the outlet said. The report also noted that Durand opposes the centers as well as potential rate hikes, and that she runs a watchdog group known as Georgia Utility Watch.
Video footage from the day of the hearing reportedly shows Durand, wearing a brown jacket, approaching a desk and picking up a booklet before setting it back down and walking to the other side of the room.
Moments later, the footage appears to show Durand taking another booklet from a different desk, placing it in her bag, and leaving the room.
In an August interview with GPB, Durand criticized what she described as a lack of transparency in Georgia Power’s agreements with data centers.
“The Public Service Commission allows very heavy redactions and trade secrets,” she said. “So the contracts between Georgia Power and the data centers are also redacted and trade secreted. So no one will know what they actually charge data centers.”
It remains unclear what officials believe Durand intended to do with the materials she allegedly took. Georgia Power is cooperating with authorities in the ongoing investigation, according to Fox 5.
The Georgia Recorder reported: “This week’s PSC proceedings were held to consider a request from Georgia Power to add nearly 10,000 megawatts to the state’s power grid. About 60% of the energy requested would come from expanding or building new gas plants, while 40% would come from renewable energy.”
Durand, who earlier this year founded Georgians for Affordable Energy, a watchdog group, alleged during a public hearing Tuesday that Georgia Power is prioritizing profits for its five affiliated gas companies by building new natural gas power plants rather than investing in solar energy and battery storage, the outlet added.
She said the company should be held accountable for what she described as its “immoral” actions.
“There is no court in the land that would allow that kind of corruption to go on, and I have no idea why the state of Georgia does,” Durand said at the time, per the Recorder.
In a statement per the Daily Mail following her arrest, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon said: “Patty Durand built her brand attacking the Public Service Commission and now she’s been arrested for stealing from it.”
He added: “This is the same failed Democrat PSC candidate who parades around as a so-called ‘watchdog’ while caught on video taking confidential Georgia Power materials. While Republican leaders are working to keep energy reliable and affordable for Georgia families, Democrats like Durand are sneaking around government offices and walking off with stolen documents.”
Durand’s campaign website includes a photo of her alongside Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who has been described by critics as a “pro-abortion radical.” According to a report from Breitbart News, Ossoff previously hired an aide with open-borders views as his senior counsel before the current government shutdown, in connection with efforts to expand health care access for illegal aliens.
“Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and other Democrats have admitted the Democrats shut down the government in part to make it easier for illegal aliens to secure taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits,” Breitbart noted.
Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, another Democrat, was convicted of felony burglary in July, more than a year after she was caught breaking into her stepmother’s home.
Mitchell was arrested in April 2024. She claimed she entered the residence to retrieve belongings that had belonged to her late father, and said her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Alaska’s political scene is bracing for a major showdown that could reverberate across the nation. According to multiple sources speaking to Fox News, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy is preparing to announce a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2028, positioning himself directly against incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski.The potential matchup would pit one of President Donald Trump’s most loyal allies against one of his most persistent critics, setting the stage for a battle that could reshape Republican politics in Alaska and beyond.Governor Mike Dunleavy, first elected in 2018, has built a reputation for pragmatic governance while avoiding much of the partisan theater that dominates Washington.
Those close to him say he is determined to complete his current
term as governor before seeking higher office, making clear that he does not intend to repeat the mistake of former Governor Sarah Palin, who resigned in 2009 to pursue national ambitions and never recovered politically.“He’s not going to quit his term,” a top source told Fox News Digital, stressing that Dunleavy has no interest in cutting short his gubernatorial responsibilities. Yet the same source acknowledged that the governor recognizes the limitations of state leadership.“Being in Washington is the only way to get things done,” the source added, noting Dunleavy’s growing awareness of the national implications of Alaska’s resources, energy policies, and strategic location.Unlike Murkowski, who has repeatedly clashed with Trump over issues ranging from impeachment to judicial appointments, Dunleavy has remained firmly in Trump’s corner.
He was the second governor in the nation to endorse Trump in 2016 and has maintained regular communication with him since. Despite the 3,500-mile distance between Juneau and Washington, Dunleavy has been one of the most frequent governors to visit the White House.
“Trump has talked to him before about running and wants him to run,” a source confirmed. This encouragement adds significant weight to Dunleavy’s potential candidacy, given Trump’s enduring influence within the Republican Party and especially among Alaska conservatives.Dunleavy’s presence at Trump’s August 15 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson further cemented his role as one of Trump’s key allies in Alaska.The symbolism of that moment underscored the governor’s national stature and close alignment with Trump’s foreign and domestic agenda.
Lisa Murkowski, the daughter of former Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski, has been a fixture in Alaska politics since her appointment to the Senate in 2002. She has cultivated an image as a centrist willing to buck her party on key votes.While this independence has earned her support among moderates and Democrats in Alaska’s unique political environment, it has also left her vulnerable to criticism from conservatives who view her as out of step with the Republican base.Murkowski famously survived a 2010 challenge from Tea Party candidate Joe Miller by mounting a successful write-in campaign, one of the most remarkable political comebacks in modern U.S. history.But analysts caution that Dunleavy represents a different caliber of challenger—one with both broad conservative support and credibility among moderates and Alaska Native communities.
“Murkowski has never faced a challenger like him,” one source told Fox News. “He’s built support that goes beyond just conservatives.”
Alaska’s adoption of ranked-choice voting in 2020 has complicated the state’s political dynamics. The system allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, making it more difficult for polarizing figures to win outright.Critics argue that this has benefited Democrats and moderates, including Murkowski, who won re-election in 2022 thanks in part to crossover support from independents and Democrats.Dunleavy, however, has shown that he can succeed under the ranked-choice system. His strong relationships with Alaska Native communities, particularly in the North Slope and rural regions, have broadened his coalition beyond traditional conservative circles.His emphasis on energy development, infrastructure, and rural education has resonated with voters who often feel overlooked by Washington.
These ties could prove decisive in a Senate race where the Native vote has historically played a crucial role.Supporters of Dunleavy point to his record in Alaska as evidence of his viability as a Senate candidate. Despite the state’s fiscal challenges, he has prioritized economic development, energy independence, and public safety.His administration has been marked by efforts to expand oil and gas production, invest in renewable energy, and strengthen Alaska’s role in America’s strategic defense.“He’s not about an ego and pushing himself in front of the cameras. He gets stuff done,” one close aide said. “He doesn’t like the cocktail parties and photo ops.”
This no-nonsense approach has earned him credibility among voters who value pragmatism over partisanship. While he has avoided the spotlight compared to Palin or Murkowski, those who know him say he is quietly building a base of support that could translate into electoral strength.A Dunleavy–Murkowski matchup would effectively become a proxy battle between Trump’s MAGA movement and the centrist wing of the Republican Party.Murkowski has been one of Trump’s most vocal Republican critics, voting to convict him in his second impeachment trial and opposing some of his judicial nominees. Trump, in turn, has repeatedly attacked her, even calling for her defeat in previous elections.Conservatives frustrated with Murkowski’s independence see Dunleavy as the ideal candidate to finally unseat her. “Conservatives would welcome an opportunity to unseat Murkowski,” an Alaska political analyst observed.“The fact that Trump and Murkowski have had such a strained relationship and Dunleavy and the president have a good relationship is really what has led us to this point.”Despite Dunleavy’s strong positioning, unseating Murkowski will not be easy. Her resilience is well-documented, and her ability to attract cross-party support in Alaska’s unique political environment has kept her in office for over two decades.Furthermore, the ranked-choice system provides her with a cushion, allowing her to rely on second- and third-choice votes from independents and Democrats who may not support Dunleavy.
Still, Dunleavy’s broad support and Trump’s backing represent a formidable challenge. His connections with Native communities, his record as governor, and his pragmatic style make him more difficult to caricature as an extremist than Murkowski’s past challengers.The potential 2028 Senate race in Alaska carries implications far beyond the state. If Dunleavy enters the race, it will highlight the ongoing struggle within the Republican Party between Trump-aligned conservatives and centrist moderates.A Dunleavy victory would strengthen Trump’s influence in the Senate and signal that even entrenched moderates like Murkowski are vulnerable to MAGA challengers.For Democrats, the race presents both opportunities and risks. While Murkowski has often sided with Democrats on key issues, a fractured Republican Party could open a path for a Democrat to compete in Alaska.At the same time, the state’s conservative leanings make it difficult for Democrats to mount a serious challenge without significant crossover support.As 2028 approaches, Alaska may become the stage for one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. Mike Dunleavy, the pragmatic governor with strong ties to Trump, is preparing to challenge Lisa Murkowski, the entrenched moderate who has survived past insurgencies but now faces her most serious threat yet.The contest will test the durability of Murkowski’s brand of independence, the strength of Trump’s influence within the GOP, and the ability of Alaska’s unique ranked-choice system to navigate an intensely polarized matchup.
What is certain is that this race will not only determine who represents Alaska in the U.S. Senate but also serve as a referendum on the future direction of the Republican Party itself.
On his way out the door, the now-fired acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency defended its inadequate Biden-era disaster responses while taking some verbal jabs at the Trump administration.
Cameron Hamilton was called to the Department of Homeland Security headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he was dismissed by Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Troy Edgar and Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to President Donald Trump, Politico reported, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
The dismissal came just one day after Hamilton testified before a House Appropriations subcommittee, during which he appeared to contradict recent statements by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the possible elimination of FEMA and shifting funding for the agency to state-level emergency management, a move that Trump has been openly considering.
“I do not believe it is in the best interests of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” Hamilton said at the hearing on Wednesday.
FEMA’s press office confirmed Hamilton’s dismissal.
“Effective today, David Richardson is now serving as the Senior Official Performing the duties of the FEMA Administrator,” a spokesperson said in an email while referencing the assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. “Cameron Hamilton is no longer serving in this capacity.”
Hamilton, a former Navy SEAL, contemplated resigning about two months ago as the new Trump administration was taking shape, until FEMA staff urged him to remain, Politico said, quoting an anonymous source.
Shortly after taking office, Trump’s DHS fired four FEMA officials for an “egregious” payment to illegal immigrants.
DHS officials told Fox News that “four employees are being fired today for circumventing leadership and unilaterally making the egregious payment for hotels for migrants in New York City.”
The firings come after Elon Musk wrote on X that “The DOGE team discovered that the agency sent “$59M LAST WEEK to luxury hotels in New York City to house illegal migrants.”
“That money is meant for American disaster relief and instead is being spent on high-end hotels for illegals. A clawback demand will be made today to recoup those funds,” Musk posted on X.
The finding came weeks after Trump announced plans to reform FEMA during a visit to North Carolina as many residents there continued their recovery from Hurricane Helene, which struck the state last fall.
“I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” Trump told reporters Friday morning during his visit. “I think, frankly, FEMA is not good.”
Trump also pledged that his administration would provide assistance to North Carolina to help repair the damage swiftly, assuring the state that he would “do a good job” in the recovery efforts.
“We’re going to fix it, and we’re going to fix it as fast as you can,” Trump said. “It’s a massive amount of damage. FEMA has really let us down. Let the country down. And I don’t know if that’s Biden’s fault or whose fault it is, but we’re going to take over. We’re going to do a good job.”
Trump also expressed a desire to see states take on more responsibility when disasters occur, arguing that local officials are better equipped to respond to and manage relief efforts. He promised to collaborate with three lawmakers from areas impacted by Hurricane Helene, criticizing FEMA for being “not on the ball” in aiding North Carolina’s recovery after the hurricane.
“So we’re going to be doing something on FEMA that I think most people agree [with],” Trump said. “I’d like to see the states take care of disasters, let the state take care of the tornadoes and the hurricanes and all of the other things that happen. And I think you’re going to find it a lot less expensive. You’ll do it for less than half, and you’re going to get a lot quicker response.”