Georgia’s attorney general recently stated that the governor of the state is not obligated to conduct an investigation into the members of the State Election Board concerning ethics complaints related to recent changes in the election procedures.
This announcement comes after Governor Brian Kemp sought an official opinion from Attorney General Carr regarding his authority to address the ethics complaints lodged by Democratic officials against three State Election Board members: Rick Jeffares, Janice Johnston, and Janelle King. The Board consists of five members in total.
Attorney General Carr’s opinion did not directly comment on whether the governor has the authority to address these complaints, but focused on whether he is compelled to hold a hearing to discuss the possibility of removing the board members in question.
The controversy surrounding these board members, all of whom are Republicans, originated in August when they approved new regulations allowing county election boards to gather additional information before certifying the election results. These new rules were enacted following an allegedly unnoticed and unpublicized official meeting held by the members in July, without an agenda or livestream.
However, Attorney General Carr has determined that the complaints submitted do not meet the formal requirements outlined by the law.
While the term “formal charges” remains undefined in the statute, it is evident that it entails more than informal complaints, grievances, or letters, as Carr explained.
Furthermore, Carr emphasized that a formal charge should adhere to due process, ensuring that the accused official is provided with proper notice regarding the alleged ethics violation.
Former President Donald Trump lauded the efforts of Rick Jeffares, Janice Johnston, and Janelle King during a rally in Atlanta on August 3rd, commending the board members as tenacious fighters for honesty, transparency, and victory.
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