BREAKING: Former Georgia Democratic Candidate Arrested by Capitol Police, Charged with Felony Theft
A former Democratic candidate for Georgia’s Public Service Commission (PSC), Patty Durand, has been arrested by Georgia Capitol Police and charged with felony theft amid allegations of stealing trade secrets from Georgia Power.
According to a report from Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), Durand was taken into custody on Tuesday following a hearing regarding Georgia Power’s request to expand the state’s power grid — a move that would add the equivalent of two new Plant Vogtles, primarily to meet energy demands from data centers.
Durand, a longtime critic of Georgia Power and the founder of the watchdog group Georgia Utility Watch, has been outspoken in her opposition to the company’s data center projects and potential rate hikes.
Video footage reportedly shows Durand, dressed in a brown jacket, approaching a desk during the hearing, picking up a booklet, and briefly examining it before setting it down. Moments later, she is seen taking another booklet from a different desk, placing it in her bag, and walking out of the room.
Authorities have not disclosed what they believe Durand intended to do with the materials she allegedly took. Georgia Power confirmed it is cooperating with investigators as the probe continues.
In an earlier interview with GPB, Durand criticized what she described as a lack of transparency in Georgia Power’s dealings with data centers. “The Public Service Commission allows very heavy redactions and trade secrets,” she said. “The contracts between Georgia Power and the data centers are redacted and marked as trade secrets, so no one really knows what they charge.”
This week’s PSC proceedings, according to The Georgia Recorder, were convened to consider Georgia Power’s proposal to add nearly 10,000 megawatts to the state’s power grid — roughly 60 percent from expanded or new gas plants and 40 percent from renewable energy sources.
Durand, who also founded Georgians for Affordable Energy earlier this year, accused Georgia Power of prioritizing profits for its affiliated gas companies over environmental responsibility. She argued during the hearing that the utility giant was focusing on building natural gas plants rather than investing in solar energy and battery storage.
“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, calling the company’s actions “immoral.”
Following her arrest, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon issued a scathing statement. “Patty Durand built her brand attacking the Public Service Commission, and now she’s been arrested for stealing from it,” he said. “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 features a photo of her alongside Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who has faced criticism from conservatives for his progressive positions. A Breitbart News report highlighted Ossoff’s hiring of a senior counsel with pro–open borders views and noted that Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), have acknowledged the recent government shutdown was partially tied to efforts to expand healthcare access for undocumented immigrants.
Durand’s arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of Democratic officials nationwide. In a separate case, Minnesota State Senator Nicole Mitchell, also a Democrat, was convicted of felony burglary in July 2025 after being caught breaking into her stepmother’s home in what she claimed was an attempt to retrieve items belonging to her late father.
As the investigation into Durand’s actions continues, questions remain about whether the incident will have broader implications for Georgia’s ongoing political and regulatory battles over energy transparency and corporate accountability.