Georgia Power is leveling serious allegations against a former Democratic candidate for the Georgia Public Service Commission, accusing her of crossing a legal line in a case that’s quickly escalating.

Patty Durand was arrested Tuesday by Georgia Capitol Police and charged with felony theft, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), marking a stunning turn for a figure who has built her public profile around government accountability.

The arrest stems from a high-stakes hearing over “Georgia Power’s request to add two Plant Vogtles’ worth of new power, mostly for data centers,” the outlet reported. Durand, a vocal opponent of both the data center expansion and potential rate hikes, leads a watchdog group called Georgia Utility Watch.

But it’s what allegedly happened inside that hearing room that has drawn the most attention.

Video footage reportedly shows Durand approaching a desk, picking up a booklet, and putting it back down before moving across the room. Moments later, she appears to take a second booklet from another desk, place it into her bag, and walk out.

The incident is now at the center of a criminal investigation.

Durand has long criticized what she claims is a lack of transparency in Georgia Power’s dealings—particularly when it comes to agreements with data centers.

“The Public Service Commission allows very heavy redactions and trade secrets,” she said in an August interview with GPB. “So the contracts between Georgia Power and the data centers are also redacted and trade secreted. So no one will know what they actually charge data centers.”

What authorities believe she intended to do with the materials remains unclear. Georgia Power is cooperating with investigators, according to Fox 5, as officials work to determine the scope and motive behind the alleged theft.

Meanwhile, the broader context of the hearing underscores just how much is at stake.

As the Georgia Recorder reported: “This week’s PSC proceedings were held to consider a request from Georgia Power to add nearly 10,000 megawatts to the state’s power grid. About 60% of the energy requested would come from expanding or building new gas plants, while 40% would come from renewable energy.”

Durand has been sharply critical of that plan, accusing the company of prioritizing profits over the public good. During a public hearing, she argued Georgia Power is enriching its affiliated gas companies instead of investing in alternatives like solar and battery storage.

She didn’t hold back.

“There is no court in the land that would allow that kind of corruption to go on, and I have no idea why the state of Georgia does,” Durand said at the time, per the Recorder.

The political fallout has been swift.

In a statement following her arrest, Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon said: “Patty Durand built her brand attacking the Public Service Commission and now she’s been arrested for stealing from it.”

He continued: “This is the same failed Democrat PSC candidate who parades around as a so-called ‘watchdog’ while caught on video taking confidential Georgia Power materials. While Republican leaders are working to keep energy reliable and affordable for Georgia families, Democrats like Durand are sneaking around government offices and walking off with stolen documents.”

Durand’s political ties are also drawing renewed scrutiny. Her campaign website features a photo with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who has been described by critics as a “pro-abortion radical.”

According to Breitbart News, Ossoff previously hired an aide with open-borders views as senior counsel ahead of the most recent government shutdown, tied to efforts to expand healthcare access for illegal aliens.

“Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and other Democrats have admitted the Democrats shut down the government in part to make it easier for illegal aliens to secure taxpayer-funded healthcare benefits,” Breitbart noted.

The case also comes amid broader controversies involving Democratic officials nationwide.

Minnesota state Sen. Nicole Mitchell, another Democrat, was convicted of felony burglary in July—more than a year after she was caught breaking into her stepmother’s home. Mitchell, arrested in April 2024, claimed she entered the residence to retrieve belongings from her late father and said her stepmother, Carol Mitchell, was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Now, with felony charges filed and video evidence under review, Durand’s legal battle is just beginning—while the political ramifications are already unfolding.