Amid Trump Probe, Georgia GOP Passes Prosecutor Oversight Bill

 

• The Senate of Georgia passed a bill last week that aims to toughen up oversight measures on the state’s prosecutors, after a special purpose grand jury counsel wrapped up investigations into alleged election interference by former President Donald Trump and his allies. The House passed the bill by a 104 to 61 vote in March 2021. It was revived in the Senate in March 2022.The bill introduces several grounds for disciplining a state district attorney or solicitor general, including mental or physical incapacity, willful misconduct, willful and persistent failure to carry out his or her professional duties, the conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. Disciplinary measures include removal or involuntary retirement. The Epoch Times has contacted the Georgia Senate for comment. The Peach state’s GOP lawmakers in the lower chamber are also working to pass House Bill 231 (pdf) to mirror the upper chamber’s oversight body, which, if passed into law, would create a Prosecuting Attorneys Oversight Commission in the House.

• Context

  The timing of this bill’s passing is significant because it closely trailed the completion of a special-purpose grand jury investigation of former President Donald Trump and his allies, which was initiated and largely run by District Attorney Fani T. Willis. Critics of Trump have alleged that the call constituted an act of election interference. The grand jury, which was discharged in January, reportedly recommended indictments. The DA’s office had not return calls by press time. In an interview with The New York Times last week, Sen. Robertson said the bill was not related to the Trump probe but was instead a response to the 2021 corruption case of Mark Jones, former District Attorney of Muscogee, Georgia. The Georgian GOP’s move is reflective of Republicans’ increasing scrutiny of the conduct of prosecutors across the nation, with some accusing prosecutors of wilful misconduct or negligence amid changes in the legal environment in recent years.

• Congratulations to the Georgia Legislature for having the courage to act boldly, fairly, and fast!”

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