Wanda Halbert investigation: special investigator gives an update. Here's what we know

Almost seven months after a special prosecutor was named to investigate Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert, the Hamilton County District Attorney has provided a formal update.

In a press release Thursday, Hamilton County DA Coty Wamp, who was appointed to lead the investigation, said that the investigation started "slow" and had issues being able to conduct interviews with "individuals that (they) believed would be important to speak with."

In addition to attempting to conduct interviews, Wamp's office has issued records requests to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, which complied with the request and provided documents. Wamp's letter said that going through financial documents has been "time intensive" that she has been in contact with the Shelby County Finance Department.

On Nov. 9, Wamp's office issued additional public information requests to the Shelby County Human Resources Department, the finance department and the clerk's office.

"As of today, we have received a response only from the Finance Department," Wamp wrote in the letter. "The Finance Department DENIED our request but is allowing us to amend the request for more specific language."

Wamp's letter continues, saying that they continue to hear of "complaints and grievances" communicated through elected officials regarding Halbert's "failure to preform her duties effectively." To date, there have been no formal complaints in the form of an email, letter or other documented correspondence.

Wamp's letter goes on to say that in order to pursue "ouster" proceedings, evidence must be in her possession that is "clear and convincing in a court of law."

The letter concludes by saying that Wamp encourages individuals who have "knowledge of Ms. Halbert's neglect of duties" or who want to be heard on the matter should contact Special Assistant Jay Price at jay.price@hcdatn.org.

Exeutive Assistant District Attorney Kevin Loper will also be in Memphis on Dec. 27th for meetings. The meetings can be scheduled ahead of time by emailing kevin.loper@hcdatn.org or by stopping in to the location of the meetings. The meetings will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:15 p.m.

Meetings with Loper will be held in the 6th Floor Conference Room in the Vasco A. Smith Jr. County Administration Building.

Poplar Plaza Location closure

The Poplar Plaza Clerk's Office location would close due to months of unpaid rent on November 9th. While Halbert denied that rent went unpaid for months at a time, documents from Finard Properties, the office location's owner, reveal that the Clerk owed almost $10,000 of unpaid rent to the management company.

Finard Properties also owned the Whitehaven location where the lease previously expired and the clerk's office was charged holdover rent for still occupying the space. The email also says that communication between Finard and the clerk's office had not been consistent; many times the property manager never received communication of any sort back from the clerk's office.

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In the emails, a representative from Finard Properties said that the company's agenda is not to remove the clerk's office locations, but long lines outside of the Poplar Plaza location have affected other tenants in the property.

Missing and incorrect revenue reports

Shelby County Trustee Regena Newman told Shelby County Commissioners Nov. 8 she had not yet received the most recent revenue report from the Clerk. Newman said that the clerk has repeatedly submitted revenue reports days later than the state requirement, which is the 10th of every month. The Comptroller's Office urged Halbert to submit her financial reports on a "timely basis" in a letter from June 2021.

Newman also said that some reports are identical to previous reports submitted, and she truly does not know how much revenue the clerk's office is bringing in.

"The only person that knows what the revenue (for the clerk's office) is is (Halbert)," Newman said.

When Halbert was asked about her late revenue reports during a press conference, she said that the reports were sent late because she did not want to be accused of missing "one cent" and that previous financials had been "off." Halbert did not explain why the clerk's finances had been off.

The revenue reports have still been arriving late, according to documents provided by Newman, and they "are not reconciling and have other issues."

Pending update to commissioners

During the Nov. 14 meeting, Commissioner Brandon Morrisson presented a late-night add-on item asking for an update on the special investigation into Halbert's office. The resolution specifically cited the closure of the satellite office in East Memphis, in addition to public complaints about the clerk's office operations as justification for the update.

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Since the request, the Hamilton County DA's office sent an email asking for individual meetings regarding ouster proceedings. The letter sent Thursday afternoon said it also serves as an update.

"We would like to provide what we can of an update understanding that this is still an open investigation," the email read.

The update will not be public and information about the update will vary from commissioner to commissioner.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at 901-484-6225, brooke.muckerman@commercialappeal.com and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County Clerk's Office investigation: Hamilton County DA gives update