ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia House members revived a commission with powers to discipline and remove prosecutors, a move Democrats warn is aimed at disrupting Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
The House voted 95-75 along party lines on Monday for House Bill 881, sending it to the Senate for further debate. A similar bill advanced out of a Senate committee last week.
Though Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed legislation last year creating the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission, it was unable to begin operating after the state Supreme Court in November refused to approve rules governing its conduct. Justices said they had “grave doubts” about their ability to regulate the duties of district attorneys beyond the practice of law. Monday’s measure removes the requirement for Supreme Court approval.
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“This commission will now be able to begin their real work, which is bringing accountability to those rogue prosecuting attorneys who abuse their office,” said Rep. Joseph Gullett, a Dallas Republican who sponsored the measure.
“Today, the House passed HB 881 to hold district attorneys and solicitors general across Georgia accountable,” House Speaker Jon Burns said in a statement. “Georgians deserve district attorneys who are focused on upholding their oath of office, prosecuting criminals, and doing their job to keep our communities safe – and I am confident that the Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission will ensure that happens. I look forward to the Senate acting quickly on this important legislation and delivering it to Governor Kemp to sign into law.”
Democrats in the House warned that less oversight didn’t calm their fears about the bill being weaponized by the majority party.
“The Georgia Supreme Court looked at their own jurisdiction, looked at their own oversight power, they had concerns and they said, we don’t think we could do it,” said Rep. Stacey…
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