VALDOSTA, Ga. — Georgia State Attorney General Chris Carr said large money donations don’t impact how he upholds the law.

Carr, who is up for reelection in November, stopped by Valdosta Wednesday to honor Coleman Talley law firm winning a statewide award. The attorney general answered questions related to a recent CBS News story about lobbyists donating lavish retreats for access to state attorneys general.

Parties pay thousands of dollars at resorts for access to attorneys general; some companies paying for access are being investigated by state attorneys general, according to the CBS report.

The CBS TV piece featured Carr. The access fees have been used to help partisan organizations such as the Republican Attorney General’s Association.

Carr is on the RAGA executive board.

“My job is to uphold the rule of law,” Carr said. “I’m a Republican AG that is a part of the Republican AG’s Association whose job is to elect Republicans across the country. But being a part of that organization doesn’t impact how I uphold the law in the state. I think getting to know the facts, getting to know the individuals helps me do my job.”

He said both parties offer similar events for fundraising purposes.

“All I can control is me, and I can say it doesn’t affect how I uphold the law,” he said.

Carr was also asked about the state’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis. He said an average of four Georgians are dying each day from opioids.

He said his office is doing a number of different things to combat the crisis. The attorney general’s office is a part of a multi-state investigation looking at the manufacturers and their advertising practices.

The AG’s office is also part of a task force acting as a liaison between private and public entities interested in fighting the opioid crisis. There have already been two state-wide task force meetings since October.

“The issue of opioids is a massive crisis. It doesn’t matter where you go in the state,” he said. 

Carr said the task force has created a website called doseofrealityga.org for more information.

Thomas Lynn is a government and education reporter for The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256