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☆ Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones won’t face charges in 2020 election interference case
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is A Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A special prosecutor announced Friday that Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones will not be charged over efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s electoral defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Jones had denied wrongdoing in the case and blasted Willis in a statement Friday. Trump and more than a dozen other people were indicted in August 2023 on state felony charges in Georgia tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The case remains on hold over efforts to disqualify Willis in her role as prosecutor.

Persons: Burt Jones, Donald, Peter Skandalakis, Jones, Joe Biden, Mike Pence, ” Skandalakis, Fani Willis, Skandalakis, Willis, “, ” Jones, Trump Organizations: Gov, ’, of, Trump, College, Atlanta Judicial, Attorney’s Office, Futon, Attorney’s Locations: Georgia, of Georgia, Fulton County

☆ Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones won’t be charged in Trump election subversion case, prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Burt Jones’ role as a fake elector after the 2020 election announced he will not move forward with criminal charges against the former state senator. “The evidence also indicates Senator Jones did not act with criminal intent, which is an essential element of committing any crime.”A Georgia judge blocked Willis from investigating Jones in July 2022. Jones was then a Republican state senator, and Willis was reprimanded by the judge for hosting a fundraiser for the Democratic candidate who was running against Jones to be Georgia’s next lieutenant governor. In his four-page written statement on Friday, Skandalakis said that Jones “fully cooperated” with the lengthy investigation over the course of four interviews. Gov Burt Jones told CNN in a written statement.

Persons: Burt Jones, Jones, Fani Willis, Donald Trump, “, Pete Skandalakis, ” Skandalakis, ”, Willis, Skandalakis, Brian Kemp, Jones “, Gov Burt Jones, ” Willis ’ Organizations: Atlanta CNN, Gov, Republican, Trump, Electoral College, Democratic, CNN Locations: Georgia, Georgia’s, Fulton County

☆ State prosecutor to investigate Georgia Lt. Gov. Jones and his role as Trump fake elector
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Sara Murray | Jason Morris | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A state prosecutor will investigate whether Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones violated criminal law in his efforts to help former President Donald Trump subvert the 2020 election results in the state. Peter Skandalakis, director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, has appointed himself to investigate the matter, according to a news release. It took nearly two years for Skandalakis to announce his decision that he would appoint himself to spearhead a potential case against Jones. Jones told CNN in a written statement: “I’m happy to see this process move forward and look forward to the opportunity to get this charade behind me.

Persons: Burt Jones, Donald Trump, Peter Skandalakis, Jones, Fani Willis, Trump, Willis, Skandalakis, “ Organizations: CNN, Gov, ’, of, Republican, Trump, Peach State, Electoral College, Democrat Locations: Georgia, of Georgia, Fulton County, Fulton

In an interview on Wednesday, Mr. Skandalakis said that he could ask a prosecutor to take on the Trump case voluntarily. Mr. Skandalakis said he could also try to find a lawyer in private practice to replace Ms. Willis. Mr. Skandalakis, a Republican, could also theoretically choose to appoint himself as the new prosecutor. No replacement prosecutor has been named. This week, Mr. Skandalakis declined to say how quickly he would be able to find a replacement for Ms. Willis in the Trump case, if it were necessary.

Persons: Fani, Willis, Donald J, Trump, Scott McAfee, Pete Skandalakis, Skandalakis, Burt Jones, Jones Organizations: ’, of, Republican, Georgia Democrats, Trump Locations: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, of Georgia, United States, DeKalb, Cobb

☆ Opinion: Fani Willis and Nathan Wade need to step aside for the sake of the country
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Opinion William Cooper | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“The optics are horrific,” Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney said about the fundraiser before disqualifying Willis and her staff from pursuing charges against Jones in July 2022. More recently, Willis admitted to having a “personal relationship” with Nathan Wade, a special prosecutor she hired to help with Trump’s prosecution. Wade hasn’t just billed Fulton County over $650,000 under Willis’ supervision; he’s done so in irregular fashion. Combined with his personal relationship with Willis, they raise significant questions, including whether any of his outsized earnings have benefited Willis. If Willis and Wade step aside, other competent lawyers can make the case that Trump violated the law.

Persons: William Cooper, Substack, Donald Trump, Fani Willis, Sen, Burt Jones, Willis, Robert McBurney, disqualifying Willis, Jones, Nathan Wade, Michael Roman’s, Wade, Attorney Willis, Trump’s, Brad Raffensperger, “, ” Trump, Raffensperger, team’s misjudgments, Wade’s, Wade hasn’t, Willis ’, ”, Scott McAfee, Trump, it’s Organizations: CNN, District, Republican, Trump, Attorney, Fulton County prosecutorial Locations: California, Fulton County , Georgia, Republican Georgia, Fulton County, United States, Georgia, Fulton

Trump has repeatedly referred to Wade as Willis' "lover” in attacks on the prosecution. But it could have the ability to delve deeply into Willis' personal and professional life and air any dirty laundry widely. The state Senate is led by Republican Lt. Gov. Willis was barred from prosecuting Jones by a judge after she hosted a fundraiser for a Democratic opponent. The panel also begins its work in a year when all of Georgia's legislative seats will be up for election.

Persons: that's, Fani Willis, begrudgingly, ”, Sen, Bill Cowsert, Willis, Donald Trump, Willis didn't, Nathan Wade, Trump, Wade, Michael Roman, ” Cowsert, Scott McAfee, Cowsert, Gloria Butler, “, Butler, I’ve, Brian Kemp, Burt Jones, Georgia’s, Jones Organizations: ATLANTA, Republican, Republican Georgia Senate, Trump, Roman, U.S . House Republicans, Gov, Senate, Democratic Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Athens, Stone

Lawmakers also said Wednesday that they want to at least temporarily suspend a sales tax exemption on equipment offered to data centers. Burt Jones touts as a way to shore up tax revenue so that Georgia could further cut its income tax rate for all residents and businesses. A study last year by Georgia State University suggested the state saw a return of less than 20 cents on the dollar. However, the credits are transferrable — production companies can sell them to any individual or business with state income tax liability. The data centers tax credit is projected to cost the state $44 million in foregone sales tax revenue this year, according to a 2022 University of Georgia study.

Persons: Shaw Blackmon, “ We’re, Burt Jones, ” Jones, Blackmon, Jon Burns, Georgia Power, Burns Organizations: ATLANTA, — Top, Marvel, Bonaire Republican, Georgia, Lawmakers, Georgia Power Co, Republican, Gov, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Newington Republican, of Georgia Locations: — Top Georgia, Georgia, Peach State, Hollywood, Bonaire

“This has to do with following state funds,” said Republican Sen Matt Brass of Newnan. But the committee can't directly sanction Willis, and Democrats denounced it as a partisan attempt to try to play to Trump and his supporters. People can already be prosecuted for making false statements to Georgia lawmakers. Those are among the criminal charges that Rudy Giuliani and some others face for the false claims they made to Georgia lawmakers in late 2020. Most of the top supporters are Republican lawmakers who also publicly backed Trump's efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results, including Republican Lt. Gov.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, ”, Republican Sen Matt Brass, Brian Kemp, Willis, “, Democratic Sen, David Lucas, Trump, Michael Roman, Nathan Wade, Ashleigh Merchant, Roman, Wade, Martin Luther King Jr, Wade —, —, Republican State Sen, Brandon Beach, Rudy Giuliani, Joe Biden, Georgia's, Burt Jones, Jones, “ I’ve, ” Jones, I’ve, ” Kemp, Josh McLaurin, ” McLaurin Organizations: ATLANTA, —, Democratic, Republican, Trump, Republican State, ”, Republicans, Democrats, Gov, New Locations: — Georgia's, Fulton County, misspent, Macon, Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco, Brandon, Alpharetta, Georgia, New Hampshire

ATLANTA (AP) — Accusations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had an inappropriate relationship with a special prosecutor she hired to seek convictions of Donald Trump and others for interfering in Georgia's 2020 election have led to renewed calls to remove Willis from the case. Merchant alleges that Willis' office paid Wade large sums and that Willis improperly benefited when Wade then paid for the two of them to go on vacations. Willis, an elected Democrat, has shown no signs of stepping down, but there are ways she could be removed. COULD WILLIS STEP AWAY FROM THE CASE IN ORDER TO SAVE IT? Many Republicans would like to see Willis investigated by Georgia's new Prosecuting Attorneys Qualification Commission.

Persons: Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Willis, Nathan Wade, Ashleigh Merchant, Michael Roman, Merchant, Wade, Wade's, Scott McAfee, McAfee, Robert McBurney, Sen, Burt Jones, Trump, “, McBurney, Jones, Danny Porter, WILLIS, it's, Porter, Norm Eisen, Barack Obama's, ”, Eisen, Mr, hasn’t, State Sen, Colton Moore, Bob Ellis, Fulton, Greg Dolezal, Cumming, ” Dolezal's Organizations: ATLANTA, Trump, White, Fulton, Georgia Republicans, Democratic, of, Atlanta —, Council, Commission, Republicans, Republican, GOP Locations: Fulton County, Miami, San Francisco, Fulton, of Georgia, Gwinnett County, Atlanta, Georgia, State, Trenton

ATLANTA (AP) — With a runup in home values sparking higher property taxes for many Georgia homeowners, there is a groundswell among state lawmakers in this election year to provide relief. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesIn Texas, voters in November approved a plan cutting property taxes by $18 billion. Pennsylvania is using lottery proceeds to cut property taxes and subsidize rent for seniors and people with disabilities. That owner would have paid more except for a $950 million property tax rebate championed by Gov. More than $2 billion in property value in Columbus is shielded from taxation by homestead exemptions which don't allow for any rise in value.

Persons: Jon Burns, Newington, ”, Jared Walczak, Chuck Hufstetler, Bill, I’ve, Hufstetler, Burt Jones, It's, Atlanta Sen, Jason Esteves, Esteves, Burns, Shaw Blackmon, Kathleen, That's, Suzanne Widenhouse, Brian Kemp, Widenhouse, ” Widenhouse Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia's, Republican, Tax Foundation, Democratic, Finance, Rome Republican, Associated Press, Georgia Department, Revenue, Georgia counties, Association of, of Georgia, Gov, Atlanta Locations: Georgia, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, Muscogee County, Columbus

At least eight Georgia Republican electors present that day have agreed to testify in exchange for immunity from state charges. The meeting was led by David Shafer, then chairman of the Georgia Republican Party. But halfway through the meeting, Shafer noted that Still’s name was printed as the secretary on documents. A Georgia Republican Party website raising money to defend electors calls them “patriots who served." Lawyers for the indicted electors argue it was up to Congress to determine which slates should be counted.

Persons: Donald Trump, “, Trump —, Robert Sinners, Trump, Joe Biden's, Kenneth Chesebro, Biden, David Shafer, Shafer, Fulton, Shawn Still, wasn't, ” Shafer, Cathy Latham, State Sen, Burt Jones, John Isakson Jr, Sen, Johnny Isakson, Isakson, Brian Kemp’s, Mike Pence, they’ve, Anna Cross, Latham, Ray Smith, Republican Richard Nixon, John F, Kennedy, Todd Zywicki, Fani Willis, ” Willis ’, Shafer’s, Willis ’, ”, Brad Raffensperger, hasn't, Willis Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Capitol, Trump, Associated Press, Georgia Republican, Georgia Republican Party, Republicans, State, Republican U.S, Atlanta, ”, Republican, U.S, Senate, George Mason University, Georgia Republicans, Hawaii Democrats, Georgia, U.S . House Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Georgia's Coffee County, Alabama, Hawaii, Virginia

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia state Senate committee says it will start its own investigation of jail conditions in the state's most populous county, three months after the U.S. Justice Department unveiled its own inquiry of Fulton County jail conditions. “Now, we can’t solve all the problems that Fulton County may have, or any other county for that fact,” Albers said. Fulton County's main jail, which opened in 1989 in a neighborhood west of downtown Atlanta, has been plagued by overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and violence. Six people have died in Fulton County custody since the end of July. Fulton County Commission Chairman Robb Pitts has said he wants to seek other solutions, in part because such an expensive undertaking would probably require a tax increase on Fulton County's million-plus residents.

Persons: John Albers, Roswell, Randy Robertson, Cataula, Burt Jones, “, ” Albers, Fulton, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, Labat, Robb Pitts, Pitts, doesn't, It's, Albers, Fani Willis, Donald Trump, Georgia's, Willis, Trump Organizations: ATLANTA, U.S . Justice Department, Gov, Public Safety, Associated Press, Fulton County Sheriff, Fulton, Republicans Locations: Georgia, Fulton County, Sens, Fulton, Atlanta, Mississippi, Atlanta's

ATLANTA (AP) — A political group linked to Georgia Gov. Kemp announced his plan to back lawsuit limits in August at a meeting of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. Kemp also argues lawsuit limits could help lower costs for inflation-pinched households, in part by lowering Georgia's high auto insurance rates. Most of that came from a $3.75 million transfer from Kemp's gubernatorial campaign, but a number of large companies and trade associations, including some backing lawsuit limits, made $25,000 contributions. Kemp also is using the money to bolster some Republican state lawmakers in the upcoming 2024 elections, while seeking to defeat some Democrats.

Persons: Brian Kemp, Kemp, ” Cody Hall, Burt Jones, Jon Burns, Donald Trump Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Gov, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Georgia General Assembly, Gov, Leadership Committee, gubernatorial, Republican Party, Senate Locations: Georgia, Georgians

☆ Takeaways from the full Georgia special grand jury report on 2020 election subversion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The Fulton County special purpose grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia recommended charges against 39 people, the unredacted grand jury report made public Friday shows. The lengthy list of recommended charges underscores how widespread the special grand jury’s investigation was into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The indictment also included 30 unindicted co-conspirators alleged to have taken part in the conspiracy, including some people the special grand jury recommended charges against. The special grand jury report was only a recommendation, and the district attorney decided which charges to bring to a grand jury last month before the indictment was returned. The charges against the fake electors were among the most contested in the special grand jury report.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Fani Willis, South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham, David Perdue, Kelly Loeffler, Michael Flynn, Boris Epshteyn, Cleta Mitchell, Trump, ” Willis, Willis ’, Willis, Graham, Loeffler, Perdue, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Graham “, ” Graham, “, ”, ” Loeffler, Brian Kemp, Burt Jones, Wills, Jones, Pete Skandalakis, – David Shafer, Cathy Latham, Sen, Shawn Still – Organizations: CNN, Trump, South Carolina Republican, Georgia Gov, Gov, of Locations: Fulton, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, South Carolina, of Georgia

☆ Trump set to deliver fiery post-indictment speech: 'They're coming after you'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Matt Dixon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

"In the end, they're not coming after me, they're coming after you -- and I'm just standing in their way," Trump will say, according to his prepared remarks. The indictment alleges Trump not only withheld classified documents but lied to federal agents and investigators about his involvement. "The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society," Florida Gov. He said the details of the Trump indictment is "devastating." Trump was also set to speak at the North Carolina Republican Party's annual convention on Saturday night.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump, — Donald Trump's, they're, Jack Smith, Joe Biden, Brian Kemp, Brad Raffensperger, Kemp, Raffensperger, Burt Jones, Biden, Kari Lake, That's, Ron DeSantis, Hunter, DeSantis, Chris Christie, Sen, Mike Rounds, Mike Pence Organizations: Newark International Airport, Georgia Republican, Columbus Convention, Trade Center, America, FBI, DNC, Trump, Republican, Fox News, Gov, Arizona, Georgia Republicans, National Rifle Association, Department, Justice, New, Republicans, Department of Justice, North, North Carolina Republican Locations: Newark , N.J, Georgia, North Carolina, COLUMBUS, Chattahoochee, Columbus, Trump, State, Miami, Florida, New Jersey, America, New York, Iowa

☆ Trump delivers fiery post-indictment speech: 'They're coming after you'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Matt Dixon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

They're coming after you — and I'm just standing in their way," Trump said. The indictment alleged that Trump not only withheld classified documents but lied to federal agents and investigators about his involvement. Another person in attendance was the conservative Trump ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor, R-Ga., whom the former president brought onstage for brief remarks. He said the details of the Trump indictment were "devastating." Trump was also set to speak at the North Carolina Republican Party's annual convention on Saturday night.

Persons: Donald Trump's, Trump, — Donald Trump's, they're, They're, Biden, Jack Smith, Smith, Joe Biden, Brian Kemp, Brad Raffensperger, Raffensperger, Kemp, Burt Jones, Marjorie Taylor, —, Kari Lake, That's, Ron DeSantis, Hunter, DeSantis, Chris Christie, Sen, Mike Rounds, Mike Pence Organizations: Newark International Airport, Biden administration's weaponized Department, Injustice, Georgia Republican, Columbus Convention, Trade Center, Trump, Justice Department, FBI, DNC, Republican, Fox News Saturday, Gov, Army, Arizona, Georgia Republicans, National Rifle Association, New, Republicans, North, North Carolina Republican Locations: Newark , N.J, Georgia, North Carolina, COLUMBUS, Chattahoochee, Columbus, Trump, Miami, Florida, New Jersey, America, New York, Iowa

At least nine are dead and more deaths are expected after more than a dozen tornadoes tore through the Southeastern U.S. on Thursday, according to officials. Seven of the deaths were reported in Autauga County, Alabama, northwest of Montgomery, according to county Emergency Management Agency Director Ernie Baggett. Six of the deaths were reported the day the tornadoes made landfall in the state, and one was reported on Friday. The second fatality in Georgia was a Department of Transportation employee who was responding to storm damage, Governor Brian Kemp said in a news conference Friday. Governor Burt Jones took a helicopter tour of the damage Friday to also assess the damage resulting from tornadoes in the state.

☆ Georgia GOP Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan says Herschel Walker will 'probably go down as one of the worst candidates in our party's history'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

"I think Herschel Walker will probably go down as one of the worst candidates in our party's history," he said. Walker and incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock are facing off in a December 6 runoff election. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyOutgoing Georgia Republican Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan said in a recent interview that Trump-backed Senate candidate Herschel Walker will likely become "one of the worst candidates in our party's history." "This wasn't the right brand for Republicanism," he continued to say, "and I think Herschel Walker will probably go down as one of the worst candidates in our party's history.

As the political world settled in for a long wait to know who will control Congress, Republicans began finger-pointing Wednesday about whether former President Donald Trump was to blame for their lackluster election night. The Georgia Senate race is headed to a December runoff, NBC News projects, making it increasingly likely control of the upper chamber won't be decided until then. "Now that it’s obvious the @gop should expel the Trump family from its future lexicon," Trump critic and Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois tweeted Wednesday morning. Vance at an Ohio Republican Party election night watch party in Columbus on Tuesday. Will Hurd, a former Republican congressman from Texas, tweeted of the election results, "It’s the candidates, stupid."

☆ Herschel Walker supporters dismiss the GOP nominee's scandals and say they're focused on boosting Republican control of the Senate: 'We all have our issues'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

At a Saturday rally in Georgia, Herschel Walker supporters dismissed his campaign's controversies. Walker repeatedly blasted his Democratic rival for what he said was an embrace of Biden's agenda. Amid reports that Walker allegedly paid for the abortions of at least two women, rallygoers were largely unfazed by the developments. Frank said it was "more than too important" for Republicans to regain control of the Senate next week. Georgia GOP lieutenant governor nominee Burt Jones speaks before a Herschel Walker rally at The Classic Center in Athens, Ga., on November 5, 2022.

☆ Dozens of Trump’s phony electors, many under investigation, still hold powerful GOP jobs in key states
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Natasha Korecki | Kaitlyn Francis | Natasha Korecki Is A Senior National Political Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +13 min

Law enforcement activity has not pushed these false electors from their political perches. Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty ImagesAll told, 23 of those false electors hold positions of power within their Republican parties. Then there are additional actors that didn’t serve in the slate of false electors themselves but were instrumental in the scheme. Others hold positions of power within the state GOP, including Shafer, who is chair; Joseph Brannan, state GOP treasurer; Vikki Consiglio, the state party’s assistant treasurer; and Ken Carroll, the assistant secretary. On June 21, federal agents scattered across key states to deliver subpoenas to those who acted as Trump electors.

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