Georgia Republicans respond to Trump indictment
Gov. Kemp says the 2020 election "was not stolen"
We are beginning to hear reactions from Georgia Republicans about the Fulton County indictment of Donald Trump.
District Attorney Fani Willis on Monday indicted Trump and several of his allies for conspiring to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
While national Republicans and even some presidential candidates are criticizing the charges, reactions from Republicans in Georgia have been more mixed.
Brian Kemp
Gov. Brian Kemp, a one-time Trump ally who has previously been interviewed by a grand jury as part of the investigation, has not responded to the indictment itself. But he responded to a recent social media post from Trump, who says he plans to provide more evidence of election fraud in Georgia at a press conference next Monday.
“The 2020 election in Georgia was not stolen,” Kemp responded on X (formerly known as Twitter). “For nearly three years now, anyone with evidence of fraud has failed to come forward - under oath - and prove anything in a court of law. Our elections in Georgia are secure, accessible, and fair and will continue to be as long as I am governor.”
The governor went on to reiterate a point he has made in the past: that his party’s continued focus on the 2020 election runs the risk of distracting them from defeating President Joe Biden next year.
Burt Jones
Since the charges were unsealed, folks waited patiently for a reaction from Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Not just because he is a statewide elected Republican, but because he has been listed as an unindicted co-conspirator.
The indictment, which appears to reference Jones as “Individual 8,” highlights a social media post dated December 7, 2020 urging Georgians to call their state legislators and demand a special session to address the issue of “free and fair elections.”
The post, which the indictment says was shared by Rudy Giuliani, is identical to one that was authored by Jones on that date.
Jones was a state senator before making the leap to statewide office. He also served on the slate of sham electors who signed documents claiming that Trump had won Georgia.
So why wasn’t he indicted? Because a judge had barred Willis’ office from interviewing him after she hosted a fundraising event for his Democratic rival in last year’s race for lieutenant governor. But we have since learned that a special prosecutor could soon be appointed to determine if Jones should face charges.
Jones has so far not commented on the investigation as it pertains to him. But he blasted Willis for “orchestrating a constant media and PR campaign for the sole purpose of furthering her own political career.”
“While the Fulton County district attorney continues to pursue the political vendettas of the past — I have and will continue to look forward, solving the most pressing issues facing our city and our state,” he said.
The timetable for appointing a special prosecutor has not been shared.
Brad Raffensperger
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is the man at the center of the entire investigation. In a January 2021 phone call, Trump frantically urged Raffenspeger to “find” enough votes to erase Joe Biden’s lead.
Though the investigation centers around him, he did not have much to say in response to the indictment. This is likely because he is sure to be a key witness at any upcoming trials in the case.
Raffnsperger put out a brief statement Tuesday, which read: “The most basic principles of a strong democracy are accountability and respect for the Constitution and rule of law. You either have it, or you don’t.”
Rich McCormick
While many House Republicans blasted the indictment, U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Suwanee) is warning his party that Trump’s legal troubles could cost them the White House once again in 2024.
McCormick, who represents metro Atlanta’s northern suburbs and outer exurbs, is supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Republican primary for President. In a statement, McCormick said that Trump’s indictments are “distractions” and that they have “eroded confidence in the judicial system.”
He urged his fellow Republicans to move on from the 2020 election and instead focus on the issues that he says matter most to American families, including border security and economic opportunity.
“To do that, we must unite behind Gov. DeSantis and his bold vision for America,” he concluded.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Rome) reaction to the indictment was similar to the responses from many of her House Republican colleagues.
In particular, she criticized a document resembling an indictment that was shared — then quickly deleted, from the Fulton County Clerk’s website Monday afternoon, hours before the indictment was officially unsealed. The DA’s office at first said that the document was “fictitious,” but later clarified that it was a “sample working document” to test the office’s computer systems before the nearly 100-page-long indictment was uploaded.
Nevertheless, Greene is crying foul. She noted that the charges in the indictment are identical to the document that was uploaded earlier in the day and claimed that the leak it was part of Willis’ plan to solicit campaign donations.
“Fani Willis thinks we’re stupid,” Rep. Greene posted on X.
Greene removes all doubt of her intelligence every time she opens her mouth. Regarding Jones I wonder if Kemp will avoid talking about him entirely, he certainly didn't mind sharing a ticket with an election denier
Lt. GOV. Repub Bert Jones should retire now, not tomorrow. Vote 💙