Rick Jackson, a Republican contender for Georgia governor, stumbled on stage when pressed about whether he employs undocumented workers, sparking attacks over conflicting statements from a debate and a deposition that say different things about I-9 checks and who handles hiring for his companies.
The debate exchange became a flashpoint when Lt. Gov. Burt Jones asked Jackson directly whether he had illegal workers and Jackson answered, “I don’t know.” That short reply has since been replayed and framed as proof of either evasiveness or ignorance about how his businesses are run.
Jackson tried to explain that he is not personally involved in day-to-day hiring and that managers follow verification rules, but his sworn deposition tells a different story. In the deposition Jackson admitted they do not use I-9 forms for employment verification, a basic federal safeguard meant to prevent illegal hiring.
Political operatives and activists pounced. “Rick Jackson is lying to someone. Either he lied in his deposition under oath or he lied to Georgians on the debate stage,” political strategist Phil Vangelakos said after the debate. “It’s pretty clear that he knows he’s employed illegal immigrants.”
Georgia Tea Party activist Debbie Dooley was even sharper, saying, “Richie Rick Jackson is a fraud that will say what he needs to in order to win and is pretending to be a Trump Conservative, when in fact, he is a Bush moderate.” Her point: messaging for voters and actions behind the scenes do not match.
The legal fight fueling this row grew out of a worker’s compensation suit that references a long-running maintenance crew on Jackson’s properties, including at his mansion. Court filings allege multiple laborers performed continuous work for the company, and the deposition shows Jackson’s awareness that new hires were not run through I-9 checks.
“No,” Jackson replied when asked in the deposition if he does any employment verification through the I-9 system. He added, “I know that sounds confusing,” and described a structure where different entities handle payroll and staffing, putting distance between him and who gets hired.
Jackson’s opponents did not hesitate. An attack ad from the Jones campaign bluntly says, “No I-9’s, no background checks for decades,” and then plays the debate clip where Jackson answers, “I don’t know.” The narrator follows with, “He knew,” and, “He’s not just hiring illegal immigrants, he’s lying to Georgians.”
Jackson’s campaign pushed back with pointed accusations of their own, arguing the criticism is politically motivated. “the takeaway from the debate ‘is the universal agreement that Burt Jones has used his office corruptly to enrich himself and attack his political opponents,'” the campaign said, and added, “It’s like a corrupt politician to attack Rick over someone hired by his landscaper.”
The campaign also insisted Jackson’s major employer, Jackson Healthcare, has used E-Verify since 2012 and stressed, “Rick would never knowingly hire someone in the country illegally and, as governor, he’ll make Georgia No. 1 in criminal illegal deportations.” That promise frames the issue as both personal integrity and a law-and-order priority for Republican voters.
The contested May 19 primary will sort through this messy mix of claims, counterclaims, and courtroom documents, with other prominent GOP names on the ballot like Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. For conservative voters focused on immigration enforcement and candidate credibility, the Jackson debate moment is now a central test of trust.
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