Georgia’s Prosecuting Attorneys Council said Tuesday that it will name a special prosecutor to consider whether to press charges against Lt. Gov. Burt Jones for his role in the state’s fake elector scheme, the Associate Press reports.
Jones was one of 16 Republican electors who falsely claimed that Trump won Georgia. As a state senator, he also sought a special session of Georgia’s Legislature aimed at overturning President Joe Biden’s narrow win in the state. However, he was not among the 18 alleged co-conspirators indicted Monday along with former President Donald Trump. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was barred from seeking prosecution against him because of a conflict of interest.
Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney agreed with Jones that Willis, an elected Democrat, had a conflict of interest because she hosted a fundraiser for the Democrat who lost to Jones in the 2022 election for lieutenant governor.
McBurney said in a hearing that Willis’ decision to host the fundraiser was a “what are you thinking?” moment.
Accused of felonies
Pete Skandalakis is the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council. He said Tuesday that he will begin looking for an appropriate prosecutor.
“Ultimately, the special prosecutor will make the decision about whether or not to file any charges,” Skandalakis told The Associated Press in a phone interview.
Jones has previously denied wrongdoing, saying he and other electors acted only to preserve Trump’s chances if Trump won a court challenge.
The indictment alleges that all 16 Trump electors, including Jones and the other 12 who weren’t indicted, committed four felonies — impersonating a public officer, forgery in the first degree, false statements and writings and filing false documents.
Jones flew to Washington the night before Jan. 6 to meet with Vice President Mike Pence. He was carrying a letter from a number of Republican state senators asking Pence to delay counting the electoral votes of Georgia and other states. But Jones has said he never delivered the letter, deciding it would be futile to try to sway Pence.
Jones’ Democratic opponent for lieutenant governor, Charlie Bailey, frequently attacked Jones for his actions, calling him “un-American and unpatriotic” in a debate.
Trump endorsed Jones in 2022 for lieutenant governor.
Skanadalakis said he would review the indictment, seek a copy of the still-sealed report of the special investigative grand jury that laid the groundwork for Monday’s indictments, and consult with Willis on what her investigators may know about Jones. Despite being ordered not to subpoena Jones or his records, Willis was still allowed to ask other witnesses about him.
It’s not clear how much risk of indictment Jones faces. Any action could weigh heavily on his future political career. Jones is seen as a likely candidate for governor in 2026.
