Judge dismisses lawsuit to force probe into 'rogue' Georgia election board officials
A Fulton County judge dismissed a lawsuit from Democrats that sought to force Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA) to investigate three MAGA Republican State Election Board members who have pressed for drastic changes in election laws weeks ahead of the 2024 general election.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville didn't oppose the investigation or even formal charges, but said that proper steps must be taken first.
"It would seem to me that for formal charges, there's some investigation comes in before that," said Glanville. "There needs to be some investigation ... then trigger the governor to do something in that respect, not just a letter from citizens."
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Three Democrats sued Kemp when he said he wouldn't act on demands for an ethics hearing into the three. State Attorney General Chris Carr, also a Republican, told Kemp that Georgia citizens can't trigger such a hearing.
The three pro-Donald Trump members of the Election Board were accused of "going rogue" by Democratic state Sen. Nabilah Islam Parkes.
The lawsuit claimed that the board members acted unethically by calling a meeting at short notice and passing new rules including one that requires "reasonable inquiry" before election results are certified.
The changes are being legally challenged.
"They need to be held accountable because we need to have fair elections," said Islam Parkes.