Gov. Kemp won't call emergency session to investigate Fulton County DA
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp broke his silence Thursday about the recent call for an emergency session of the general assembly to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Georgia's Republican Sen. Colton Moore officially called for an emergency session to review the actions of Willis on Aug. 17 after the grand jury handed up an indictment against former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants.
GEORGIA SENATOR WANTS GOV. KEMP TO CALL SESSION TO INVESTIGATE FULTON COUNTY DA
According to a petition that Moore is asking people to sign, Willis is "potentially abusing" her position of power by pursuing charges against Trump.
During a news conference at the Georgia state capitol, Kemp said he does not have the authority to call a special session and he will not back efforts to reprimand Willis.
Kemp also said that until up to now, he has not seen any evidence that warrants any action by the prosecuting attorneys oversight commission. He also said that not only would calling a special session to remove Willis would be unfeasible, but it would also likely be unconstitutional.
"As long as I am governor, we’re going to follow the law and the Constitution, regardless of who it helps or harms politically," Kemp said.
Kemp also said, "In Georgia, we will not be engaging in political theater that only inflames the emotions of the moment. We will do what is right. We will uphold our oath to public service. And it is my belief that our state will be better off for it."
Kemp did voice concerns about whether Willis was politically motivated to pursue the 51-count indictment.
Kemp also brought up the death threats that he received after the election and said that he sees echoes of those volatile times now.
KEMP'S FULL REMARKS
Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones also released a statement in response to Moore's petition.
"What Senator Moore is asking for is not practical. Calling individual members out by name becomes a distraction from what we should be talking about and that is the gross misuse of power, resources and responsibility from the Fulton County DA. I will continue staying focused on fixing the mess that she has created with crime in Atlanta and helping Republicans win in 2024."
OTHER RECENT STORIES:
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- Trump says DA's office shouldn't assume to know better than Georgia court on how to handle case
Trump has repeatedly attacked Kemp and Willis during the investigation.
"Governor Kemp of Georgia is fighting hard against the impeachment of the crooked, incompetent & highly partisan D.A. of Fulton County, Fani Willis, who has allowed murder and other violent crime to MASSIVELY ESCALATE," the former president wrote Aug. 21 on his Truth Social platform. "Crime in Atlanta is WORST IN NATION. She should be impeached for many reasons, not just the Witch Hunt (I did nothing wrong!)"
Other Georga Republicans have also attacked Willis, with some joining Trump in the call to impeach the district attorney.
"Fani Willis should be ashamed of herself and she’s going to lose her job," said Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. "We’ll make sure of that."
Georgia’s General Assembly hasn’t impeached anyone in more than 50 years, and with Republicans holding less than the required two-thirds state Senate majority to convict Willis, they would have to persuade Democrats.
Trump and his 18 co-defendants were indicted after a two-and-a-half-year investigation instigated by Willis. All the defendants are facing a racketeering charge and other charges related to their alleged roles in trying to change the 2020 election results in Georgia.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.