Judge failed to disclose $248K contract

ANDERSON COUNTY – The Anderson County Commissioner’s Court met on Friday to discuss taking action to recover $248,723.74 that was paid to a former judge’s wife through an unapproved county work contract. According to our news partner KETK, in a special meeting of the Anderson County Commissioner’s Court on Friday, Anderson County Judge Carol G. McKinney and the county commissioners discussed how former Anderson County Judge Robert Johnston’s wife Brenda Johnston was working for the county even though he never disclosed her employment, which he was required to do when he last took office.

According to Anderson County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Greg Chapin, Brenda had previously worked for the Anderson County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney. Chapin explained that she was later contracted to work Child Protective Services cases for the DA’s office, on a part-time basis, for a $5400 a month contract.

Chapin said the county auditor had told the DA’s office that they could enter into the project with Brenda without the approval of the commissioner’s court, so the contract was never officially approved or ratified with the county.

In Friday’s meeting, McKinney explained that this contract lasted from September of 2018 to August of 2022. In that time, McKinney said Brenda earned $248,723.74 in unapproved funds from the county.

Chapin explained that Anderson County District Attorney Allyson Mitchell told the commissioners that the statute of limitations for a civil case to recover the funds paid to Brenda has now passed because the contract started in 2018.

The statute of limitations for any misdemeanor charges against Robert for violating nepotism or conflict of interest prohibitions has also passed, according to Chapin.

McKinney expressed concern that all of Robert’s decisions as County Judge from during the period of Brenda’s contract could be brought into question somehow, since county officials are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest to be properly sworn in.

Chapin told KETK News that he doesn’t expect any action to be taken on these matters in their next meeting on Monday or in the future, since the end of the statute of limitations has passed.

McKinney is currently running against Robert Johnston in the March 2026 Republican Primary to be the next Republican Party candidate for Anderson County Judge.