'Grave concerns': Georgia election officials accused of knowingly violating state law

A former chair of the Fulton County elections board filed an ethics complaint against three far-right members of the Georgia State Election Board over a series of rule changes that would allow MAGA county officials to block certification of results at their discretion, according to Anna Bower of Lawfare.

Cathy Woolard wrote in her complaint to Gov. Brian Kemp she felt compelled — again — to express "grave concerns" about the conduct of three members on the board: Rick Jeffares, Janice Johnston and Janelle King."

"Since the appointment of Member King in May, these three members have made significant changes to the rules governing Georgia’s elections even though the election is just months away. They have also knowingly and willfully violated state law in pursuing those ends, and have repeatedly disregarded the advice of the Attorney General’s office, turning instead to outside parties for both legal counsel and the substance of proposed rules," she wrote.

Wollard's concerns included changes that violate state election law, that the meeting in which they made the changes violated the Open Meetings Act by preventing public access, and that their decision to reopen investigations into 2020 ballots is contrary to the conclusion of the state attorney general.

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"The Governor should direct that the Office of State Administrative Hearings schedule a hearing as promptly as possible," wrote Woolard. "The Members have already shown their willingness to disregard the law, and there is reason to believe their aim is to ensure Trump’s victory in Georgia by any means necessary. Georgia voters deserve to have confidence that the State Election Board will respect the will of the voters, whatever it may be."

Former federal prosecutor Joyce Vance concurred with the complaint, writing, "Certifying vote counts isn't optional. Local election officials are required to do it, it's a 'ministerial' duty. Trump's followers are trying to violate the rules-again. The lawyers won't let them."

The three members of the board in question, who have been accused of ethics violations previously over the same meeting, were appointed with the support of former President Donald Trump, who has referred to them as "pit bulls" for election integrity. The rule changes they made undo longstanding, established precedent that local officials have only a ministerial role in certifying the election, and don't get to veto results based on personal suspicions.

Jeffares, who has openly said he believes Trump did not legitimately lose the election in Georgia in 2020, has floated himself as a name for Trump's next leader of the Environmental Protection Agency.