More Details Emerge in Bishop Scholarship Scandal

“The controversy over Rep. Sanford Bishop’s decision to award charity scholarships to his relatives has expanded as four more students tied to the south Georgia Democrat and his wife have acknowledged receiving them, as well.”

“Now the circle of people known to have received scholarships and have connections to the Bishops is growing, raising fresh criticism from a government watchdog group and questions from charity officials. Public documents and interviews show that two scholarships went to the children of individuals who were employed by Bishop’s wife, while two more went to persons with connections to the congressman’s office.”

“In Bishop’s case, scholarships went to people who worked for his wife, Columbus Municipal Court Clerk Vivian Creighton Bishop, who chaired a committee of lawmaker spouses who raised money for the scholarship program from 2003 to 2005.

“Besides assisting his two relatives, Rep. Bishop earlier acknowledged that one scholarship went to Sherletha Thomas, who once worked for his wife and is now married to a staffer of the congressman’s.

“Others related to those with ties to Rep. Bishop recently said they received scholarships during the years 2001 to 2003.

“For example, Bonica Smith, the daughter of a deputy to Bishop’s wife, received a scholarship during the 2001 school year, according to records published by the CBC Foundation. The foundation did not make clear how much each student received, and Barbara Smith, the deputy clerk, said she could not recall the financial details (though she confirmed that she was working for Bishop’s wife at the time of the scholarship).”

“A second scholarship went in 2003 to Kelli Blair, the daughter of deputy court clerk Shirley Blair.”

“Tiffany Tisdale, who won a scholarship for the 2003 school year, is the niece of Doris Gillispie, a Bishop staffer, according to Tisdale’s mother, Jacqueline Tisdale.”

“In another case, Jonathan Alston, a former intern and campaign volunteer for Rep. Bishop, won a scholarship in 2003 — he estimates it was for $500 to $1,000. Although he didn’t live in Bishop’s district, his hometown and college were represented by CBC members.”

Read more: (Ray Henry, “Scholarships Went to People Tied to Ga. Lawmaker,” Associated Press, 09/24/2010)