Harbin 'has failed us all' with delays in court date for DUI case

Editor:

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Looks like seven times was not the lucky number for the people of Georgia. Somehow, yet again, Rep. Ben Harbin has been able to sneak past the people of Georgia and get his trial for his driving under the influence arrest delayed.

May 20 will mark one year since his arrest, but he still refuses to give the people of Georgia their day in court. His court date was set for April 29. However, he did not even show up; his lawyer was there instead. For those of you keeping score, his eighth hearing is scheduled for June 24.

The sixth time Harbin had his trial delayed he said it was because the Legislature was in session and he could not go to court because of his duties under the Gold Dome. (Actually, looking at what was accomplished by the General Assembly, he wouldn't have missed much if he skipped a day for court.)

So what was going on in Evans that he could not make it to Atlanta for court on April 29, seeing as we are not in session now? Actually, the answer to that would be nothing. I believe Harbin was seen on the day of his scheduled court appearance at the state Capitol paying his qualifying fees to run for his re-election. That only takes an hour to do. Why could he not then walk down the street to the courthouse and defend his case to the people of Georgia?

Harbin's continued delays in this court case is a slap in the face to the prosecutors, police officers and judges who continually have to take time out of their day from protecting us to have a hearing which Harbin does not even show up for.

In the coming months, Harbin will be asking for your support while he tries to get his friends elected to office. I strongly urge that you take a close look at who his friends are and for what office they are running. Harbin failed his field sobriety test, according to the officer who arrested him; Harbin has failed us all by wasting taxpayers' money on these silly delays. I don't want his friends thinking that they can waste our money as well.

Holly Jensen

Evans