Atlanta city official fired amid $1M bribery investigation

ATLANTA (AP) – An Atlanta official has been fired from City Hall amid a federal bribery investigation.

Local news outlets reported that Adam Smith, chief procurement officer for the city of Atlanta, was fired Tuesday. A statement from Mayor Kasim Reed’s office said Smith “has been relieved of his duties effective immediately.”

No reason for Smith’s termination was given. But within the last month, two construction company owners – Charles P. Richards Jr. and Elvin R. Mitchell Jr. – have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the bribery investigation.

Prosecutors say Mitchell and Richards conspired to pay city officials to award them lucrative city contracts, with more than $1 million paid out between 2010 and 2015.

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