Tom Pappert | The Georgia Star News

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

January 24, 2024January 23, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.”

Georgia Republican Party Leadership Challenge Rumors Unfounded: Party Officials

January 23, 2024 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.

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

January 21, 2024January 20, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 20, 2024January 19, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.”

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

January 19, 2024January 18, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.”

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

January 18, 2024January 17, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.”

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

January 16, 2024January 16, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 15, 2024January 15, 2024 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.

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

January 14, 2024January 14, 2024 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, according to Sunday remarks by the lawyer who first raised the allegation in a legal filing last week.

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

January 14, 2024January 14, 2024 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.

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

January 13, 2024January 12, 2024 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.”

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

January 12, 2024January 11, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 11, 2024January 10, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 10, 2024January 9, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 9, 2024January 9, 2024 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.”

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

January 9, 2024 Tom Pappert

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

January 8, 2024 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.

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

January 6, 2024January 5, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 5, 2024January 4, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 4, 2024January 3, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.”

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

January 3, 2024January 2, 2024 Tom Pappert

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.

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

January 2, 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.

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

January 1, 2024 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.

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

December 30, 2023December 29, 2023 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.

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

December 29, 2023December 28, 2023 Tom Pappert

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.

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

December 28, 2023 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.

Second Georgia Republican Victim to Christmas Day Swatting Following Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene

December 26, 2023 Tom Pappert

Georgia State Senator Clint Dixon (R-Gwinnett) is the second Georgia Republican to report being swatted on Christmas Day, with U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) posted about her own experience on social media.

Atlanta ‘Rapid Transitional Housing’ Project Will Offer ‘Micro-Units’ to Homeless People in January

December 26, 2023 Tom Pappert

It was confirmed on Friday that a $5 million “rapid transitional housing” project in Atlanta is on pace to accept 40 residents from the city’s homeless population beginning in January as city officials consider cracking down on homeless encampments.

The report came after Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (D) toured the project, known as The Village, which WSB-TV reported “could house up to 40 people in individual units with private baths, social services,” and a “dog park” in “donated converted shipping containers and modular units.”

Georgia Democrat Files Bill to Eliminate State Income Tax as Governor Plans to ‘Accelerate’ Cuts

December 25, 2023 Tom Pappert

A Democratic state legislator quietly filed a bill in late November for the upcoming legislative session that would eliminate the state’s income tax by 2025.

Georgia State Representative Eric Bell (D-Jonesboro) filed HB 559 to “repeal the state income tax in its entirety,” along with any tax credits or conflicting laws. Just two pages long, Bell’s bill would declare, “For taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, no income taxes whatsoever shall be levied or collected by the state or any political subdivision thereof and no income tax returns shall be required to be filed for such taxable years.”

Georgia GOP Chair Josh McKoon Expects ‘Absurd’ Move to Strike Trump from Colorado Ballot to Energize Republican Voters

December 23, 2023December 22, 2023 Tom Pappert

The chairman of the Georgia Republican Party (GAGOP) told National Public Radio (NPR) on Friday that he expects the “absurd” decision of the Colorado Supreme Court to strike former President Donald Trump from the ballot will energize Republicans to vote against President Joe Biden in November 2024.

On Tuesday, a one-vote majority of the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that Trump engaged in an insurrection against the United States government on January 6, 2021, and thus is ineligible to run for president in 2024 and struck him from the state’s primary ballots, prompting widespread outrage from Republicans.

Georgia Unemployment Rate Holds at 3.4 Percent for Third Month as Expert Predicts ‘Soft Landing’ for State Economy

December 22, 2023 Tom Pappert

The Georgia Department of Labor revealed on Thursday that the state’s unemployment numbers remained constant at 3.4 percent for the third consecutive month in November, even as small business owners across the country report a pessimistic outlook for the economy.

A total of 14,300 jobs were added to Georgia over November, bringing the total number of jobs generated in 2023 to 103,700. Nearly 5 million jobs exist in Georgia, which the agency reported continues to be the state’s highest recorded.

Democrat Election Attorney Marc Elias Joins ‘Stop Cop City’ Effort to Prevent Atlanta Public Safety Building

December 21, 2023December 21, 2023 Tom Pappert

Democrat election attorney Marc Elias is throwing his support behind the “Stop Cop City” referendum to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Facility where a protester shot a Georgia State Trooper in January, a Wednesday report confirms.

Elias has decided to throw “his political weight behind a proposed ordinance that aims to upend Atlanta’s petition review process,” according to Atlanta Black Star. The petition review process memo was sent by the Vote To Stop Cop City Coalition, reported left-leaning Mother Jones.

Judge Reportedly ‘Skeptical’ of Lawsuit to Remove Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones from Office over 2020 Election Contest

December 20, 2023December 19, 2023 Tom Pappert

Georgia Superior Court Judge Thomas Wilson reportedly expressed skepticism at an attempt to remove Lt. Governor Burt Jones (R) from office on Monday. A group of Democratic voters in Georgia filed the lawsuit claiming Jones’ role as one of the alternate electors who sought to preserve former President Donald Trump’s legal challenge to the 2020 election in Georgia should make him ineligible to hold office.

Wilson “appeared skeptical of the plaintiffs’ longshot arguments,” according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which reported that plaintiffs argued Jones “is an insurrectionist against the Constitution of the United States of America” because he participated in the 2020 election contest, and thus should be prohibited from holding office due to a post-Civil War law that was also cited in a bid to prevent Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from seeking reelection in 2022.

Gov. Brian Kemp Announces $1,000 Bonus for Georgia Teachers, New Funding For School Safety

December 19, 2023 Tom Pappert

Governor Brian Kemp (R) announced a $1,000 bonus on Monday for those who work in Georgia’s schools, and introduce legislation to provide Georgia with more school funding and fund a permanent, annual bonus.

In a joint announcement with Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington), and State Representative Matt Hatchett (R-Dublin), Kemp announced a $1,000 “state employee retention pay supplement” for more than 300,000 Georgia teachers and state employees who work in education.

Prosecutors Say Former Facebook DEI Executive ‘Abused a Position of Trust’ When Defrauding Company $4 Million

December 16, 2023December 15, 2023 Tom Pappert

Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a Georgia resident and former Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) executive at Facebook, admitted on Tuesday to defrauding the company of more than $4 million from 2017 until 2021.

Federal prosecutors say Furlow-Smiles “abused a position of trust as a global diversity executive” to steal “millions of dollars” from Facebook while “ignoring the insidious consequences of undermining the importance of her DEI mission.”

Georgia U.S. Rep. Drew Ferguson Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2024

December 15, 2023December 14, 2023 Tom Pappert

Georgia U.S. Representative Drew Ferguson (R-GA-03) announced on Thursday that he will not seek another term in office, and will instead resign from Congress when his term ends in January 2025.

Ferguson announced his decision to retire from Congress in a Thursday post to X, formerly Twitter. He called his time in the U.S. House “the honor of a lifetime,” while complimenting his staff as “talented and dedicated” and constituents as “wonderful.”

Fani Willis Maintains She ‘Is Not Responsible’ for Fulton County Jail, Argues Georgia Senators ‘Should Worry About the State Prisons’

December 14, 2023December 13, 2023 Tom Pappert

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis asserted in a Tuesday interview that Georgia state senators investigating the conditions at the Fulton County Jail should instead investigate the state prison system, though she said she “is not responsible” for the jail.

Willis made the remarks to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in response to an investigation launched in the Georgia Senate earlier this year over the conditions at the Fulton County Jail, where 10 inmates have died in 2023. One of the defendants in Willis’ high-profile Young Slime Life (YSL) racketeering case was stabbed in the jail this week, delaying the ongoing trial until 2024.

Georgia City Bans New Massage Parlors Amid Human Trafficking Crackdown

December 13, 2023December 12, 2023 Tom Pappert

The Roswell City Council issued a temporary moratorium on Monday to prohibit the city from granting new licenses for massage parlors in the Fulton County suburb located north of Atlanta. The moratorium follows a number of September human trafficking arrests and law enforcement actions at six massage parlors.

The city approved a resolution “instituting a temporary moratorium on new massage establishment licenses and occupational tax certificates” for 90 days “or until the City has properly amended its ordinances regarding massage establishments.”

Trump Expands Lead in Georgia as Poll Shows Biden Struggles with Young People

December 12, 2023 Tom Pappert

Former President Donald Trump has expanded his lead over President Joe Biden in Georgia, according to a new CNN-SRSS poll, which suggests the current president is struggling with voters in key demographics.

The poll showed Trump winning with 49 percent of the vote, while just 44 percent of voters said they would vote for Biden. The polling was conducted between November 30 and December 7, and pollsters reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percent.

New Fulton County Jail Expected to Cost over $1.7 Billion, Finish in 2031

December 8, 2023December 7, 2023 Tom Pappert

If funding for a new jail in Fulton County is approved next year, the facility could open in 2029, but will not be finished until 2031, according to a presentation received by Fulton County commissioners on Wednesday. The county considers a new jail as the Georgia State Senate investigates the conditions at the troubled Fulton County Jail.

The proposed facility will cost nearly $1.76 billion, and will boast enough room to provide accommodations and services for 4,416 inmates, according to the presentation delivered by consultants from architecture firms TreanorHL and STV.

Fani Willis Reportedly Wants Mike Pence to Testify Against Trump in Georgia Election Trial

December 7, 2023December 6, 2023 Tom Pappert

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) reportedly plans to call former Vice President Mike Pence as a witness in the Georgia racketeering trial of former President Donald Trump.

Willis reportedly lists Pence among nearly 150 witnesses she intends to call at trial, according to a CNN report published Wednesday. Citing sources “familiar with court documents that remain under seal, the outlet reveals that Willis’ latest witness list includes Pence’s name.

Democratic Georgia State Senator Calls for Fulton County Sheriff to Resign for Jail ‘Crisis’

December 6, 2023December 5, 2023 Tom Pappert

Georgia State Senator Joshua McLaurin (D-Sandy Springs) called for embattled Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat (D) to resign on Monday in response to the “crisis” at the Fulton County Jail.

McLaurin cited Labat’s recent controversies, which include allegations he used the jail’s Inmate Welfare Fund as a “slush fund” and questions about why medical bracelets purchased from a company tied to Georgia legislators were not being used at the facility, before calling for his resignation.

Gov. Kemp Pitches Legislation to ‘Accelerate’ Georgia Tax Cuts Next Year

December 5, 2023December 5, 2023 Tom Pappert

Governor Brian Kemp (R) pitched new legislation on Monday that he said will “accelerate” Georgia’s new income tax cuts. Beginning in 2024, the Kemp’s plan would steadily increase income taxes annually until the tax rate falls to 4.99 percent.

Kemp announced the move to expand on HB 1437, which established a flat income tax in Georgia by which all income earners are taxed equally at 5.49 percent. While HB 1437 called for the tax rate to eventually decrease to 4.99 percent, Kemp said in a Monday statement that his changes to the law will mean Georgians pay less taxes sooner.

Georgia State Senate Overwhelmingly Votes to Support Atlanta Public Safety Training Center Despite ‘Stop Cop City’ Petition

December 2, 2023December 1, 2023 Tom Pappert

The Georgia State Senate voted on Friday to approve a symbolic senate resolution expressing support for the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, with the measure receiving universal support among Republicans, and support from all but seven Democrats.

Introduced by State Senator Mike Hodges (R-Brunswick), the resolution expresses “support for the” safety training center and condemns “acts of violence and domestic terrorism,” referencing the violent clashes between law enforcement and protesters that saw a Georgia State Patrol trooper shot and a protester killed in January.

Fulton County Jail Moves Up to 70 Inmates to Forsyth County amid Severe Overcrowding, ‘149,200-Case Backlog’

December 1, 2023November 30, 2023 Tom Pappert

News broke on Thursday that Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat inked an agreement with Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman in April to allow up to 70 detainees at the troubled Fulton County Jail to be relocated to the nearby county, with the agreement reportedly citing Fulton County’s 149,200-case backlog.

Reports indicated Labat planned to send some of the inmates in Fulton County to other jails earlier this year, but Appen Media Group published details about the agreement struck with Forsyth County for the first time on Thursday.

Trump Seeks Dismissal of Georgia Election Case Citing First Amendment, Notes DA Willis’ Election Claims in Indictment

November 30, 2023November 29, 2023 Tom Pappert

Attorneys for former President Donald Trump submitted a legal filing in Fulton County Superior Court on Monday arguing the First Amendment protects Trump from prosecution for the statements he made during his contest of the 2020 election results in Georgia.

Trump’s lead attorney, Steve Sadow, wrote in the filing that Trump genuinely believes he won the 2020 election in Georgia, despite Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ repeated claims he “falsely” made statements to that effect.

Georgia Judge Will Hear Motions from Trump Co-Defendants Mark Meadows and Jeff Clark to Delay Court Dates

November 29, 2023November 28, 2023 Tom Pappert

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee agreed on Tuesday to hear motions from two co-defendants in the Georgia racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and those who helped him contest the 2020 election. If granted, the motions would see a significant delay in court deadlines that could impact the proposed August 5 trial date.

McAfee agreed to hear motions last week filed by attorneys for former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Jeff Clark, who was the acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Division of the Apartment Justice during the 2020 election. Both men have filed for the charges against them to be removed from Fulton County to a federal court, and seek to delay Georgia court dates until those decisions are made.

Georgia Supreme Court Pauses Commission Created to Check Prosecutors, Stalling Senate Effort to Rein in Fani Willis

November 28, 2023 Tom Pappert

The Georgia Supreme Court refused to accept the proposed rules for the state’s new Prosecuting Attorneys Qualification Commission (PAQC) in a ruling made Wednesday, effectively pausing the Republican effort to provide oversight for the state’s attorneys.

Georgia lawmakers passed SB 92 last year, creating the PAQC to provide oversight of elected district attorneys across the state. While independent, the legislation requires the Georgia Supreme Court to accept the PAQC’s draft standards and rules before the committee can enforce its decisions.

Biden, Democrat Donors Reportedly Do Not Consider Georgia ‘Top Tier’ Priority for 2024

November 25, 2023November 24, 2023 Tom Pappert

President Joe Biden and major donors to the Democratic Party do not consider Georgia to be a “top tier” priority for the 2024 elections, according to multiple progressive and Democratic activists quoted in a New York Times report published Friday.

Cliff Albright, executive director of the Black Voters Matter Fund, told the publication his impression from “Democratic donors and party leaders” is that Georgia is “not, like, first tier,” adding that “some early indications are that it’s not going to get top-level prioritization.” The left wing group he co-founded spent more than $1 million to oppose former Republican Senators Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue in 2020, and nearly $400,000 to elect Democratic Senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff.

Slain ‘Stop Cop City’ Protester Wrote ‘Killing Cops Is Okay’ in ‘Anti-Police’ Diary Georgia Attorney General Wants to Use in RICO Trial

November 23, 2023November 22, 2023 Tom Pappert

The office of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr (R) filed a motion on Tuesday to use the diary of slain “Forest Defender” Manuel “Tortuguita” Terán in the racketeering trial of more than 60 activists allegedly tied to violent protests at the site of the future Atlanta Public Safety Training Center.

Police say Terán opened fire on Georgia State Patrol (GSP) troopers at the site of the public safety training center in January, prompting troopers to fatally shoot him. Prosecutors determined the troopers involved in the fatal shooting will face no charges in October.