Special prosecutor to weigh indicting Georgia lieutenant governor for 2020 election plot: report

15 August 2023

Less than twenty-four hours after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis filed a forty-one-count indictment against former President Donald Trump and eighteen of his associates for attempting to nullify President Joe Biden's 2020 election win in Georgia, David Wickert of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia Executive Director Pete Skandalakis intends to appoint a special prosecutor to decide if Republican Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones should also be charged in connection with the alleged plot.

PACGA, the agency's website states, "provides a number of important services to the hundreds of elected and appointed prosecutors across the State of Georgia. The council consists of nine members, six district attorneys and three state court solicitors who establish policies that guide the day-to-day work of the Council staff."

Wickert writes, "Jones is one of 30 people who prosecutors said participated in a conspiracy to overturn the election but were not charged in a Fulton County indictment released late Monday. But Jones may yet face charges, and his fate will rest with a special prosecutor who will determine whether further investigation is needed."

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Although Willis' complaint "did not name Jones," Wickert explains, "it referenced his efforts to rally support for overturning Biden's victory. It noted that on Dec. 7, 2020, a tweet by 'unindicted co-conspirator Individual 8' urged Georgians to 'call your state Senate & House Reps & ask them to sign the petition for a special session. We must have free & fair elections in GA & this is our only path to ensuring every legal vote is counted.'"

The Twitter post "matches one that Jones shared on the same date," Wickert observes.

Reuters' Jeff Amy draws the same conclusion.

"The indictment lists 30 unindicted coconspirators," Amy says. "'Individual 8' is clearly identifiable as Jones, with actions listed including taking part in state Senate committee meetings, receiving emails from other people, issuing a tweet calling on people to pressure state lawmakers to support a special session, and acting as a Trump elector."

The tweet reads, "Georgia Patriot Call to Action: today is the day we need you to call your state Senate & House Reps & ask them to sign the petition for a special session. We must have free & fair elections in GA & a this is our only path to ensuring every legal vote is counted. @realDonaldTrump."

Jones "was one of 16 Republican electors who falsely claimed that Trump won Georgia. As state senator, he also sought a special session of Georgia's Legislature aimed at overturning" Biden's victory," Amy continues. Willis "alleges that all 16 Trump electors, including Jones and the other 12 who weren't indicted, committed four felonies — impersonating a public officer, forgery in the first degree, false statements and writings and filing false documents."

Wickert notes that "Skandalakis was waiting for Willis to complete her investigation. Now that the grand jury has acted, he said he has reached out to Willis to obtain a copy of a special grand jury report on her investigation and to get a briefing on the investigation to date."

Per Reuters, Skandalakis told the Associated Press that "ultimately, the special prosecutor will make the decision about whether or not to file any charges."

Wickert also stresses that "finding a special prosecutor may not be easy. Skandalakis said state law limits the special prosecutor's compensation to less than $60 per hour — not much for many lawyers — plus some travel costs. If the prosecutor wants the help of an investigator or administrative assistant, he or she must bear the cost out of pocket."

Wickert concludes, "It's unclear how soon Skandalakis will appoint a prosecutor or how soon a prosecutor will make a determination about Jones' case. But Skandalais said the special prosecutor will not be bound by the timetable of Willis' case."

View Wickert's article at this link. Amy's analysis is here.

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