ATLANTA — Gov. Brian Kemp said he will not call a special session to investigate, nor impeach Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Some Republican legislators continue to demand a special session to investigate Willis’ prosecution of former President Donald Trump and others on election interference charges.
But Kemp said Thursday that he doesn’t have the legal authority to call one and said he hasn’t seen that Willis has done anything illegal.
“The bottom line is that in the state of Georgia, as long as I’m governor, we’re going to follow the law and the constitution regardless of who it helps or harms politically,” Kemp said.
Far-right Republicans led by Trenton state Sen. Colton Moore have repeated calls to punish Willis for her prosecution of Trump and 18 others.
But in an email to the GOP caucus on Wednesday, House Speaker Jon Burns strongly cautioned against what he called “a reckless course of action.”
“Targeting one specific DA in this manner certainly flouts the idea of separation of powers if not outright violates it,” Burns said.
“I will continue to call for a special session up until the point we go into session, and I mean, to discount my voice and the 200,000 people I represent, is unconstitutional in itself,” Moore told Channel 2′s Richard Elliot. “This is why I’m pushing for a special session.”
Kemp refused to call a special session in 2020 despite intense pressure from Trump. He cited the same law when refusing to call for one now.
“Over the last few years, some inside and some outside of this building have forgotten that, but I can assure you, I have not,” Kemp said.
Kemp did criticize Willis’ prosecution, believing it’s political in nature and sows seeds of distrust, but added, he’s seen no evidence she’s done anything illegal.
Giuliani loses defamation suit brought by Fulton election workers harassed after 2020 election The women said statements Giuliani made about them following the 2020 election turned their lives upside down.
mckeitherson on August 31st, 2023 at 15:48 UTC »
Stuff like this is one of the reasons why Kemp was able to stave off the second challenge from Abrams. He's distanced himself from MAGAs enough that those swing Independent or Moderate Republicans are willing to vote for him.
honeybakedman on August 31st, 2023 at 15:31 UTC »
In one corner we have the outwardly racist maga republicans who will end democracy for a gameshow host and in the other corner we have the fuck you got mine republicans who will tolerate democracy as long as they get tax cuts for the rich and judges who will march us towards some kind of christian government. What a time to be alive.
Easy_Rip1212 on August 31st, 2023 at 15:25 UTC »
In other news, Gym Jordan has announced he will be weaponizing the government to start an investigation into Gov. Kemp for not weaponizing the government.