Fulton County Commissioner Natalie Hall has been sanctioned by her peers amid findings of sexual discrimination against her former chief of staff, Calvin Brock. As reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, a federal judge ruled that Hall, had indeed discriminated against Brock after their romantic relationship turned sour, leading to what the court concluded was a wrongful termination.
The fallout from the relationship has seen tense moments within the commission. Commissioner Marvin Arrington Jr., who was the sole dissenting vote against the censure, exchanged heated words during the meeting where the board voted 5 to 1 on Hall's censure. In this climate of disapproval, community figures also aired grievances, with one leader stating, "We do not trust her we don’t believe the things she says because she smirks like as if there is no apology," according to 11Alive.
The judge's 68-page decision mandates that Fulton County provide back pay dating back to September 2020 with interest, cover attorney's fees, and pay $65,000 in compensatory damages to Brock. Added to this financial recompense, the judge has ordered supervisory training for Commissioner Hall and that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's decision be posted both in the workplace and on the county's website.
"To have a sexual relationship with a subordinate is a lapse in judgment because now you have put the body, and the taxpayers at risk," District 6 Commissioner Khadijah Abdur-Rahman told FOX 5 Atlanta, echoing the sentiments of the board's censure resolution. Meanwhile, Brock expressed his relief over the ruling, saying, "I stand vindicated. This chapter can now be closed, allowing me to forge ahead with my life," in a statement obtained by FOX 5.
Hall has abstained from the vote and remained silent through the censure process, which has continued to stir controversy among the Fulton County Commission and the public alike. The commission, now tasked with moving past this tumultuous chapter, has yet to see how the ruling and the surrounding circumstances will affect the long-term dynamics of the body and the trust of their constituents.
