Category: Georgia

Fani Willis Fired Whistleblower Who Warned of Misuse of Federal Funds Shortly Before Paying Alleged Boyfriend Nathan Wade

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis

Audio emerged on Wednesday of a conversation between embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Amanda Timpson, a former subordinate who claims she blew the whistle to Willis about an alleged plan to misuse federal funding by a former member of her campaign who Willis retained as part of her team after taking office.

Timpson recorded the audio on November 21, 2021, according to The Washington Free Beacon, which originally unearthed the clip. This means Willis and Timpson spoke about alleged wrongdoing in at the Fulton County District Attorney’s office just under three weeks after Willis hired her alleged romantic partner, private defense attorney Nathan Wade, to oversee the criminal case against former President Donald Trump.

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Georgia Bill Seeks to Ban AI Deepfakes in Elections, Make Releasing Them a Felony Crime

Tom Pappert
John Albers

A bill was filed last week that could see “deepfake” audio and images, including those created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, made a felony in Georgia if they are used in the context of an election.

Georgia State Senator John Albers (R-Alpharetta) filed SB 392, which, according to its summary, would make it a criminal offense to use deepfake technology to interfere with an election.

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Georgia State House Candidate C.J. Pearson Blasts ‘Rogue Operation’ to Smear Him by ‘Atlanta Political Establishment’

Tom Pappert

C.J. Pearson, who is running in the February 13 special election to fill the seat in the Georgia State House vacated when former Representative Barry Fleming accepted an appointment to a judgeship by Governor Brian Kemp, told The Georgia Star News the political attacks about him are due to his strident conservatism.

Political operatives and organizations connected to Kemp are reportedly “taking aim” at Pearson with political advertisements claiming his previous work for Prager University and prior support for Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in 2016, when Pearson was himself just 13-years-old, are proof he does not share Georgia’s values.

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Republicans in Georgia State Senate Want to Expand RICO Law Used Against President Trump, Rapper Young Thug, ‘Stop Cop City’ Protesters

Tom Pappert
John Albers

A total of 10 Republicans in the Georgia State Senate are now sponsors of SB 359, originally filed by State Senator John Albers (R-Alpharetta), which would expand Georgia’s Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to allow misdemeanor crimes to be included in RICO cases.

The bill would also allow enhanced sentences to be considered in RICO cases based on a defendant’s political affiliations or beliefs.

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Georgia State Senate Approves Committee to Investigate Fani Willis

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Fani Willis

The Georgia State Senate approved Friday the creation of a committee to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

The senate voted 30-19 to investigate Willis in response to allegations that she awarded her alleged lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a “lucrative” contract that she benefited from when he took her on vacations using money he earned from his position. Sen. Greg Dolezal introduced the legislation Monday to create a Senate Special Committee on Investigations, which would have the power to issue subpoenas and compel production of records.

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Fani Willis Reportedly Accused Trump’s Lawyer of Racism in Email Chain over Discovery Documents

Tom Pappert
Fanni Willis

A report containing emails from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, sent two days after she was accused in a court filing of engaging in an inappropriate relationship with the special prosecutor she appointed to investigate former President Donald Trump, reveal she made allegations of racism against Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow.

On January 8, Willis was accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who she appointed to oversee her case against former President Donald Trump, in a court filing by Michael Roman, who is a co-defendant in the Georgia election case against Trump.

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Gov. Brian Kemp Prefers Changing Law Stalled by Georgia Supreme Court over Senate Investigation into Fani Willis, Nathan Wade

Tom Pappert
Brian Kemp

Governor Brian Kemp said on Tuesday that he would prefer Georgia lawmakers make changes to the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission (PAQC) rather than pursue the effort by Republicans in the Georgia Senate to form a new investigative committee to explore allegations Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is engaged in a romantic affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

Not only was Willis recently accused of engaging in the inappropriate relationship, it was also alleged by one of the defendants in her election case against former President Donald Trump that she financially benefited from Wade’s appointment through her participation in luxurious vacations paid for by Wade.

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Commissioner Who Wants to Bump Fani Willis’ Budget Recently Lost Thousands of Taxpayer Dollars in Court

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Natalie Hall

The Fulton County commissioner who wants to increase District Attorney Fani Willis’ budget by over $9 million recently cost taxpayers thousands by losing a sexual discrimination lawsuit brought by her former chief of staff.

A judge ruled earlier this month that Commissioner Natalie Hall sexually discriminated against her former chief of staff Calvin Brock, ordering the county to provide Brock backpay from September 2020 with interest, along with attorneys fees and $65,00 in damages, Fox 5 Atlanta reported on Jan. 12. Hall is proposing adding $9.7 million to the District Attorney’s budget, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported Monday.

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Fulton County Commissioner Demands Answers from Fani Willis over Alleged Affair as Georgia State Senator Files Legislation to Investigate

Tom Pappert
Willis Ellis

Fulton County Commissioner Bob Ellis, in his capacity as the chair of the Fulton County Audit Committee, sent a letter on Monday demanding answers from District Attorney Fani Willis over her alleged affair with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, who she appointed to prosecute her case against former President Donald Trump and has compensated more than $650,000 in taxpayer dollars.

Ellis wrote in his letter to Willis that he “must reasonably inquire” about the allegations she “misused county funds and accepted valuable gifts and personal benefits from a contractor/recipient of County funds.”

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Georgia Republican Party Leadership Challenge Rumors Unfounded: Party Officials

Tom Pappert

Three Georgia Republican Party (GAGOP) officials confirmed to The Georgia Star News on Monday that rumors of a forthcoming leadership challenge against two of the party’s top officials were unfounded and no leadership challenge was mounted at the Saturday GAGOP State Committee meeting on St. Simons Island.

In an email reviewed by The Star, Cross cited an editorial from the owner of a Georgia radio station, which claimed a scheme to remove both 1st Vice Chairman Brian Pritchard and 2nd Vice Chairman David Cross from their party positions was scheduled to take place at the Saturday meeting.

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Fani Willis’ Divorce Case Unsealed in Cobb County at the Behest on Her Alleged Lover, Nathan Wade

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis

Cobb County Superior Court Judge Henry Thompson unsealed the divorce case Monday for Fani Willis’ alleged lover, Nathan Wade, who she appointed as special prosecutor on the case against former President Donald Trump.

Thompson ruled that the case should be unsealed, but deferred on deciding whether Willis will be required to testify, temporarily blocking the deposition scheduled for Tuesday but leaving the possibility open for a later date. During the Monday hearing, Thompson stopped attorneys from discussing Willis’ claim that requiring her to testify would interfere with “an ongoing criminal prosecution,” which she raised in her bid to quash the subpoena issued by the attorney for Nathan Wade’s wife, Joycelyn Wade.

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Georgia Elections Chief Wants Money for Audit Technology, Cost Unclear

The Center Square

Georgia’s top election official wants more tax dollars to fund technology that could “audit the ballot text of every race” without using QR codes.

“Voters deserve comprehensive audits of all races and the reassurance that the ballots are being counted correctly,” Georgia Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said in a statement after he presented his proposed budget to the joint Appropriations Committee.

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Fani Willis Pledged Not ‘To Date People That Work’ Under Her in Resurfaced 2020 Campaign Interview

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis

A video resurfaced on Friday showing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis pledging she will not “date people that work” under her if elected to her current position.

The clip of Willis was filmed during her April 6, 2020, appearance on the Atlanta-area public access program “People TV” as she campaigned to become Fulton County’s top prosecutor.

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Commentary: Education Freedom Is Georgia’s Top Priority

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Field Trip

In his recent State of the State address, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp strongly endorsed Georgia’s education freedom legislation, which offers disadvantaged Georgians the same quality education as everyone else. “Our job is not to decide for every family but to support them in making the best [education] choice for their child,” said Kemp. “That is what we were elected to do.”  

Senate Bill 233, the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, establishes education freedom accounts (EFAs) of $6,500 annually for families who choose better education alternatives. Eligibility is limited to families whose children attend the worst 25% of schools statewide. Parents can use the funds for any educational expense, including tuition, fees, books, tutoring, and transportation. This bill should be the legislature’s top priority in 2024.  

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Credit Card Statements from Nathan Wade’s Estranged Wife Purportedly Prove Fani Willis Vacationed, Took Cruises with Special Prosecutor

Tom Pappert
Fani Willis

A new legal filing claims to contain proof that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and special prosecutor Nathan Wade, whom she appointed to oversee her case against former President Donald Trump, are engaged in a romantic relationship. Containing financial statements showing he purchased plane tickets for Willis, the filing was made by the special prosecutor’s estranged wife, Jocelyn Wade, in response to Willis’ filing, which claimed she was attempting to “embarrass” and “harass” her by including Willis in the divorce proceedings.

The filing in the divorce case reveals he was previously held in contempt of court for refusing to comply with discovery obligations in the case, despite himself initiating the divorce. When Nathan Wade eventually supplied “a portion of his outstanding required discovery responses” on December 22, 2023, his estranged wife’s legal team received “credit card statements which demonstrated that [Wade] had paid for and taken trips unrelated to his work with the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.”

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Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Asks Congress to Block Biden’s Pay Raise for Foreign Farm Workers

Tom Pappert
Farm Workers

Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Tyler Harper released on Tuesday a letter he wrote to Georgia’s congressional delegation last month which urged them to pause the proposed wage increase for foreign farm labor, warning the raise would add millions in new labor costs for family-owned Georgia farms.

A press release revealed Harper warned in his letter that “the Biden administration’s proposed H-2A Program Adverse Effects Wage Rate increase for 2024” will “add an estimated $50 million to Georgia producer’s on-farm labor costs” over the year, and the “arbitrary increase” would come as farmers already face “sky-high input costs and inflation.”

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Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones Announces Bill Banning Ranked Choice Voting

Tom Pappert
Jones Robertson

Georgia Lieutenant Gov. Burt Jones (R) and State Senator Randy Robertson (R-Cataula) introduced SB 355 on Tuesday to ban ranked choice voting in the state.

Jones said in a statement that ranked choice voting “is designed to cause confusion and fatigue among voters.” Allegedly “pushed by dark money groups,” Jones added it “could cause a drastic increase in the number of ballots being thrown out, disenfranchising Georgia voters.”

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Trump Leads Biden by 8 Points in First Georgia Poll Released Since Fani Willis Allegations

Tom Pappert
Trump Biden

Former President Donald Trump has a commanding lead over President Joe Biden in Georgia, according to the results of the first poll of Peach State voters since it was alleged that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is romantically entangled with Nathan Wade, who she appointed to prosecute her case against Trump.

The Tuesday Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll was conducted between January 3 and January 11, while the legal filing containing allegations Trump and Wade are in a romantic relationship became public on January 8. Pollsters contacted 1,007 registered voters in Georgia to gather their data, which they reported had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

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Contracts Show Fani Willis Offered Top RICO Expert Lower Hourly Rate Than Her Alleged Lover in Trump Case

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis paid her alleged romantic partner, Nathan Wade, to work at a higher hourly rate on the case against former President Donald Trump than she contracted one of the state’s leading racketeering experts, according to documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

John Floyd, who wrote a book on federal and state Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statutes and is considered Georgia’s top expert, entered into a contract with the Fulton County District Attorney’s office on March 10, 2021 at an hourly rate of $150 per hour, according to a contract obtained by the DCNF. Nathan Wade, who Willis appointed special prosecutor, was retained at a rate of $250 per hour, according to the contract contained in court documents — though Willis claimed Sunday all her special counsels were paid the same rate.

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Georgia Universities Rebrand, Rename Diversity Efforts in Wake of New Anti-DEI Regulations

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As Georgia universities respond to new anti-Diversity, Equity and Inclusion regulations in the state, at least one outspoken scholar argues the efforts are not actually eliminating DEI.

The University System of Georgia in 2023 banned the use of DEI statements for hiring, and colleges and universities in the state were also told to discontinue the use of DEI terminology in teaching training standards.

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Trump ‘Can’t Imagine They Go Forward’ with Georgia Election Case After Fani Willis, Nathan Wade Relationship Allegations

Tom Pappert

During a Sunday rally in Iowa, former President Donald Trump said he “can’t imagine” the Georgia election case against him moving forward amid the allegations that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is romantically linked with Nathan Wade, who she appointed as special prosecutor and paid more than $650,000 in taxpayer money.

In addition to the accusation Willis is engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Wade, she is also accused of hiring him without following proper procedure and financially benefiting from his compensation through luxurious vacations financed by the special prosecutor. The claims about their alleged relationship surfaced in a legal filing last week by Michael Roman, who is a co-defendant in Willis’ case against the former president.

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Fani Willis Delivers ‘Letter to God’ from Pulpit of Baptist Church on Sunday, Defends Hiring of Nathan Wade and Suggests Critics Motivated by Racism

Tom Pappert

Embattled Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis delivered what she called a “letter to God” on Sunday at Big Bethel Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta. The speech, which Willis delievered from the Pulpit, represented Willis’ first remarks since she was accused of engaging in an inappropriate romantic relationship with attorney Nathan Wade, who she appointed as a special prosecutor for her case against former President Donald Trump.

Willis did not mention Wade’s name in her speech, but referred to him in remarks that seemed to suggest those questioning Wade’s pay, or the alleged romantic relationship, are committing acts of racism. She and the special prosecutor were accused of being romantically entangled in a legal filing by Michael Roman, who is a defendant in her case against former President Donald Trump.

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Attorney Says She Has Witnesses Ready to Testify They Saw Alleged Lovebirds Fulton County DA Fani Willis and Subordinate Nathan Wade

Tom Pappert

Multiple witnesses are reportedly willing to testify to the existence of an inappropriate romantic relationship between Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Nathan Wade, the private defense attorney she hired for her case against former President Donald Trump, the lawyer behind the allegations said Sunday.

The allegation that Wade and Willis are romantically involved originated in a legal filing written by attorney Ashliegh Merchant for Michael Roman which sought to have the case dismissed. The filing alleged Willis hired Wade, who began divorce proceedings immediately after, and benefited financially as Wade earned more than $650,000 working on the case.

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Fulton County Special Prosecutor Breaks Silence on January 6 Committee’s Involvement in Trump Case

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Nathan Wade

Fulton County special prosecutor Nathan Wade broke his silence Friday after his publicly released billing statements revealed prosecutors met with the House Jan. 6 select committee prior to indicting former President Donald Trump.

Trump co-defendant Michael Roman filed a motion Monday to dismiss the case, claiming Wade is romantically involved with District Attorney Fani Willis, who signed his “lucrative” contract and allegedly traveled with him on vacations and cruises Wade paid for using money he earned from the county. Wade said during a hearing Friday before Judge Scott McAfee that prosecutors did not receive any “tangible documents” from their meeting with the Jan. 6 committee, addressing the issue for the first time since billing statements referencing the meetings were released with the Monday motion.

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Fulton County DA Fani Willis Under Fire for Paying Alleged Married Lover to Prosecute Trump, Bar Complaint Filed

Rachel Alexander

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is prosecuting former President Donald Trump and others connected to him, is facing accusations she violated attorneys ethics rules by appointing her married lover as chief prosecutor on the case. The accusation was raised in a pleading filed on Monday by a lawyer for Michael Roman, a former Trump campaign staff member who also faces charges in the case along with 13 others. A bar complaint was filed with the State Bar of Georgia.

On Tuesday, Trump reacted to the news, calling Willis “totally compromised” and stating that the case “must be dropped.” He added, “It’s illegal. What she did is illegal. So we’ll let the state handle that, but what a sad situation it is.” 

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Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon Wants Trump Case ‘Halted’ over Alleged Relationship Between Fani Willis, Nathan Wade

Tom Pappert

Georgia Republican Party (GAGOP) Chair Josh McKoon called on Tuesday for the Fulton County case against former President Donald Trump to be “halted” following the allegation that District Attorney Fani Willis (D), who filed racketeering charges against Trump and his co-defendants, is engaged in an inappropriate romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

McKoon said in a press release that he was “shocked” by the allegation “Willis and wade were allegedly engaged in a romantic relationship before and after” Willis contracted Wade to “prosecute Republicans, richly rewarding him with nearly a million dollars of Fulton County taxpayer money so far.”

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Criminal Referral Filed Against DA Fani Willis, Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade over Alleged Romantic Relationship

Tom Pappert
Greene, Wade, Willis

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) filed a criminal referral on Wednesday against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) over her alleged romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade.

The criminal referral was sent to Governor Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr, and cites the recent filing by Michael Roman, who is a defendant in the Willis’ election case against former President Donald Trump.

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Lawyer Hired by Fani Willis to Prosecute Trump Case Met With Biden White House Twice, Possibly Collaborated with January 6 Committee

Tom Pappert
Nathan Wade

Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor hired by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) who is also alleged to be her romantic partner, reported in invoices submitted to Willis’ office that he met with representatives from the Biden administration twice. The filing also reveals Wade visited Washington, D.C. a third time for unclear, work-related purposes, and may have conferenced with the January 6 Committee in the U.S. House during a separate work-related trip in Georgia.

Defendant Michael Roman, who is among those indicted by Willis in her election case against former President Donald Trump, alleged in a Monday court filing that Willis is engaged in an inappropriate romantic relationship with Wade, who Fulton County taxpayers have compensated nearly $654,000.

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Commentary: Democrats Lie About Election Integrity as Republicans Work for It

Admin

A couple of months ago, Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that it would hold its 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, Georgia. This news is more than just a sports scheduling update: it represents the unraveling of Democrat conspiracy theories about election integrity in Georgia and across the country. 

In 2021, a host of leading Democrats – from Stacey Abrams, to Raphael Warnock, to Joe Biden – spread rampant misinformation about election integrity in Georgia, aided by a sympathetic mainstream media. The MLB was bullied into moving its game out of Atlanta, costing local businesses $100 million in projected revenue. They were lying about Georgia’s Senate Bill 202, which strengthens voter ID protections, expands early voting hours, and protects bipartisan poll watching, among other common sense functions. Polling shows that a strong majority of Americans support the measures contained in Senate Bill 202. However, Democrats saw an opportunity to unfairly demonize their political opponents and claimed, with no evidence whatsoever, that the law was aimed at suppressing minority voters. 

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Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade, Alleged Lover of Fani Willis, Paid at Least $650,000 to Prosecute Trump in Georgia Election Case

Tom Pappert
Nathan Wade

A Monday filing by attorney Michael Roman, who is a defendant in the Georgia racketeering case against former President Donald Trump, claims that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) is engaged in an inappropriate romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, the private defense attorney she appointed to prosecute her case against the former president. Roman alleged in the filing that Wade was paid nearly $1 million by Georgia taxpayers, and The Georgia Star News confirmed he has earned over $650,000 while working on the case against Trump.

Roman made his allegations in a motion to dismiss the case against him, arguing the alleged romantic relationship between Willis and Wade made the indictments improper, as the relationship would violate professional ethics rules for attorneys in Georgia and may have violated federal law by failing to make the relationship public. It also calls on Willis to be barred from prosecuting her case against Trump as a consequence of the improper alleged relationship.

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Trump Files Motions to Dismiss Georgia Election Case Citing Presidential Immunity, Double Jeopardy, Prior Election Contests

Tom Pappert

Former President Donald Trump made three new legal filings in Georgia on Monday, each requesting on different grounds for Fulton County Superior Court Judge to dismiss the case brought against him by District Attorney Fani Willis (D). In the filings, Trump’s attorney Steve Sadow cites alleged due process and double jeopardy violations, as well as presidential immunity granted by the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

“From 1789 to 2023, no President ever faced criminal prosecution for acts committed while in office,” Trump’s attorney Steve Sadow notes in his 67-page filing requesting the case be dismissed by Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee due to presidential immunity. “The indictment in this case charges President Trump for acts that lie at the heart of his official responsibilities as President. The indictment is barred by presidential immunity and should be dismissed with prejudice.”

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Georgia Republicans Who Killed School Choice Legislation in 2023 May Stop Reforms Again

Tom Pappert

A group of Republicans in the Georgia State House who were responsible to killing a 2023 effort to increase school choice in the state will reportedly work to stymie the education reforms again in 2024, according to a Friday report.

In 2023, Republicans in the Georgia Senate successfully passed Senate Bill 233, which would have granted state funded vouchers of up to $6,500 for students in the bottom 25 percent of the state’s schools. The funding would have been removed from public schools at the same time, which rural Republicans claimed was unfair to students that did not leave the struggling schools.

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Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones Slams ‘Ridiculous Political Attack’ After Judge Tosses Effort to Remove Him from Office over 2020 Election Contest

Tom Pappert
Burt Jones

Superior Court Judge Thomas Wilson tossed an effort to remove Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R) from office on Friday. Jones told The Georgia Star News in a statement that he was happy to put the “ridiculous political attack” behind him.

The lawsuit was launched by a group that argued Jones “is an insurrectionist against the Constitution of the United States of America” due to his role as an alternative elector, which his lawyer argued in court was to preserve former President Donald Trump’s legal challenge of the election results in 2020.

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‘I Actually Feel Quite Valued’: Mentorship Program Works to Retain New Teachers

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Teacher and Students

Jack Fredericks is investing in new teachers because he wants to help them stay in the classroom for the long haul.

He serves as the program coordinator for the new teacher mentorship program in the West Tallahatchie School District, something he worked with his superintendent to create after researching mentorship as a Teach Plus Mississippi policy fellow. 

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Atlanta Saw Less Violent Crime in 2023, but Vehicle Thefts and Shoplifting Skyrocketed

Tom Pappert
Mayor Dickens

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and Police Chief Darin Schierbaum held a joint press conference on Thursday to detail what they identified as a downward trend in crime within the city, but preliminary numbers published by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) in December 2023 reveal that not all types of crime are declining.

Dickens said during the press conference that the “major crime against people” was “down more than 15 percent,” with homicides down about 20 percent and rapes down about 50 percent since 2022.

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Mark Meadows Hires New Lawyers, Asks Appeals Court for Second Hearing to Move Georgia Election Case to Federal Court

Tom Pappert
Mark Meadows

Former Trump administration White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows made a new filing with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday evening, requesting an en banc hearing for his appeal of a lower court’s decision denying his request to have the election case against him in Fulton County, Georgia removed to a federal court. Meadows also retained new legal counsel for his attempt to have the entire circuit court hear his appeal.

Following the decision by a panel of judges on the 11th Circuit to deny Meadows’ appeal in December, his attorneys argued in the new filing that its ruling fails to conform with Supreme Court precedent and “consideration by the full court is necessary to secure and maintain uniformity of decisions in this court.”

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D.C. Bar Disciplinary Panel Holds Contentious Pretrial Hearing Before Disbarment Trial of Trump’s Former DOJ Attorney Jeff Clark

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Jeff Clark

A District of Columbia Bar disciplinary panel held a pretrial hearing last month to prepare for the upcoming disbarment trial against President Donald Trump’s former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark. Clark (pictured above) is also being prosecuted in Georgia and is an unindicted co-conspirator in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s federal prosecution, due to a letter Clark drafted to Georgia election officials after the 2020 election advising them of options the Georgia Legislature could take to address the concerns about election illegalities. The letter was never sent nor circulated.

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Atlanta Road to Remain Closed Up to 10 Weeks After Possible Homeless Fire Under Cheshire Bridge

Tom Pappert
Cheshire Bridge

A section of the Cheshire Bridge Road will remain closed to traffic for up to 10 weeks after a fire that may have started in a homeless encampment under the bridge, an Atlanta City Council member confirmed in a December 29 newsletter to his constituents.

Atlanta City Councilmember Alex Wan told his constituents in his newsletter that the bridge is slated to be repaired, all at once, over a period that may take up to 10 weeks. Wan explained, “it has been determined that it is better long term to complete the entire rehab work at once” rather than partially opening the bridge to accommodate some traffic while repairs are finished.

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Eight New Bills Become Georgia Law, State Income Tax Rates Fall in 2024

Tom Pappert

Eight new bills became law in Georgia on Monday, with the most significant allowing Georgians with health insurance coverage to see medical specialists even if they’re referred by a physician not covered by the insurance network. Last year, Georgia lawmakers also passed significant legislation that provided income tax refunds to every Georgia taxpayer, created a commission to oversee elected attorneys, and created three new district judgeships, one of which will be filled by a state legislator.

Georgia’s CATCH Act, SB 20, requires insurance providers with network plans to maintain a sufficient number of doctors, physicians, pharmacies, clinical laboratories, and other medical treatment facilities, and empowers the Georgia Insurance Commissioner to determine the adequacy of such plans. The law also prohibits health insurance companies from denying preauthorization for healthcare services if a referral came from a physician outside of the patient’s network, such as an emergency room doctor.

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Bill Allowing Rent Control Proposed in Georgia with Support of ‘Party for Socialism and Liberation’

Tom Pappert

Senator Donzella James (D-Atlanta) proposed Senate Bill 125 for the upcoming legislative session to allow local governments to impose rent controls, upending a nearly 40-year-old ban on the practice. The plan is supported by activist group Party for Socialism, whose spokesman repeatedly endorsed rent controls to local media.

Current Georgia law mandates, “No county or municipal corporation may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which would regulate in any way the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple-unit residential rental property.” James’ bill proposes repealing the entire section of law, opening the door for any Georgia city or county to impose rent controls.

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Lawmaker Wants Stricter Penalties Following Christmas Swatting Incidents

The Center Square

by T.A. DeFeo   A state lawmaker said he plans to push stronger penalties for anyone who makes a swatting call, a hoax 911 call reporting a fake emergency prompting authorities to respond to an unsuspecting house. The move comes after several Georgia lawmakers were swatted during the Christmas holiday. “I plan to work with Senators from both sides of the aisle during the 2024 Legislative Session to introduce legislation strengthening penalties for false reporting and misuse of police forces,” State Sen. Clint Dixon (pictured here), R-Gwinnett, said in a statement. “This issue goes beyond politics — it’s about public safety and preserving the integrity of our institutions,” Dixon added. “We will not stand for these threats of violence and intimidation. Those involved in swatting must be held accountable under the full extent of the law.” Dixon, state Sen. John Albers, R-Roswell, State Sen. Kim Jackson, D-Stone Mountain, State Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick, R-Marietta, and Lt. Governor Burt Jones, a Republican, were among the lawmakers swatted. “It serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by our law enforcement agencies in distinguishing between genuine threats and false alarms,” Kirkpatrick said in a statement. A push for new legislation addressing swatting…

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Ken Chesebro Will ‘Poison’ Case Against Trump If He Testifies in Georgia Election Trial, Anti-Trump Lawyer Warns

Tom Pappert

A lawyer and author known for his critiques of the Trump administration told CNN on Friday that lawyer Ken Chesebro, who signed a plea agreement with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, would likely help former President Donald Trump if called to testify in Georgia.

Elie Honig, a former U.S. Assistant Attorney for the Southern District of New York, called Chesebro a “mixed bag” who may not help Willis prove her case.

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Georgia State Representative Who Drafted Voting Law Appointed Superior Court Judge, Setting Stage for Special Election

Tom Pappert
Barry Fleming

Governor Brian Kemp appointed Georgia State Representative Barry Fleming (R-Harlem) to become a Superior Judge in the the Columbia Judicial Circuit. Fleming drafted Georgia’s 2021 voting law, and reportedly faced reprisal from government officials because of the legislation.

Kemp revealed his judicial appointments in a Thursday press release that he appointed Fleming to the judgeship vacated with the retirement of Judge James Blanchard.

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Georgia Election Board Chairman Will Be Replaced Weeks After Vote Against Investigating Brad Raffensperger

Tom Pappert

The Georgia State Senate is reportedly planning to replace the acting chairman of the State Election Board just weeks after he voted against investigating how Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) managed the 2020 presidential election. Raffensperger’s political adversary, Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R), will reportedly play a role in determining the new chairman.

Acting chairman Matt Mashburn will be replaced with another Republican by the Georgia State Senate, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which cited two sources familiar with the plan. Mashburn most recently received a two-year appointment by former Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan (R), and was confirmed by the Georgia Senate in 2021. His term expired earlier this year.

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Georgia Sees Its Population Increase by 1.1 Percent in 2023

The Center Square

Georgia saw its population increase by 1.1% from 2022 to 2023, though new numbers show the rate of its increase trailed that of several neighboring states.

According to the latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia’s population stood at more than 11 million people in 2023, up from 10.9 million in 2022. Census numbers show that the state’s population has grown more than 2.9% since 2020.

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