Georgia
Fulton 19 Update: Jones probe, Trump gets NYC day in court, Georgia summer trial date off track • Georgia Recorder
Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, will lead an investigation into whether Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ actions after the 2020 presidential election warrant criminal charges for illegally interfering in Georgia’s electoral vote count.
Georgia’s prosecutors council announced on Thursday they were appointing Skandalakis as special prosecutor, about two years after the state agency was tasked with selecting a district attorney or another bar-certified lawyer with the legal gravitas to take charge of a high-profile investigation into the second highest ranking elected official in state government.
Fulton County Judge Robert McBurney barred District Attorney Fani Willis from prosecuting Jones in the same racketeering election interference case as Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants, after finding that Willis had a conflict of interest because she hosted a fundraiser for a Democratic candidate who ran against Jones for lieutenant governor during election season in 2022.
Skandalakis, who spent 25 years as the district attorney for the Coweta County judicial circuit, since 2017 has been head of the agency that represents district attorneys and state employees working in prosecutor offices throughout Georgia.
As special prosecutor, Skandalakis will decide whether to press the case against Jones for falsely claiming Trump won Georgia’s 2020 election. A state senator at the time, Jones also pushed for a special session of the Legislature in an attempt to overturn President Joe Biden’s narrow win in Georgia.
Jones and several of his Republican colleagues were unsuccessful in their calls for Gov. Brian Kemp to order a special session, which the governor said was unconstitutional.
Jones released a statement late last week saying he expected a quick resolution to a case while disparaging Willis.
“I’m happy to see this process move forward and look forward to the opportunity to get this charade behind me,” Jones said. “Fani Willis has made a mockery of this legal process, as she tends to do. I look forward to a quick resolution and moving forward with the business of the state of Georgia.”
Calls for Willis to step down from the case have grown since she admitted at a Jan. 15 court hearing that she had a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, a trial attorney she hired to lead the case. Fulton County has paid Wade more than $700,000 and defense attorneys say trips he took to Aruba and other vacation spots with Willis amount to a conflict of interest for the DA.
The Republican-led state Legislature has also passed a bill that establishes a prosecutors oversight commission to investigate claims of misconduct and other allegations against district attorneys. That panel could target Willis.
Trump New York fraud case starts Monday
Donald Trump is scheduled to be inside a Manhattan courtroom on Monday morning for the start of jury selection for the remainder of his criminal trial that prosecutors anticipate will last about six weeks.
The New York trial focuses on accusations Trump falsified business records to hide hush money paid to keep adult film star Stormy Daniels from disclosing details about an alleged extramarital affair with Trump in 2006.
Prosecutors must convince jurors that bookkeeping errors were committed with the aim of illegally affecting an election. Trump also denies he was romantically involved with Daniels.
New York prosecutors plan to present evidence at the trial to show Trump funneled money to repay his lawyer Michael Cohen for the $130,000 allegedly paid to Daniels in the final month leading up to the 2016 election showdown between Trump and Hillary Clinton.
There are four criminal cases against Trump in progress, and the New York case is the first to go to trial. Trump on Monday becomes the first former president in the nation’s history to face a trial on felony charges. New York law requires defendants to be in court throughout the proceedings.
Fulton trial unlikely to start by Nov 5 election
The odds of Fulton County’s charges against Trump’s reaching a courtroom before the Nov. 5 presidential election continue to fade.
Trump is on course for a rematch of the 2020 contest against Biden.
Willis’ chance of starting the trial by preferred target of late summer likely depends on how an appellate court responds to motions filed by Trump and multiple co-defendants in their quest to disqualify Willis from the case for what they claim is prosecutorial misconduct.
The Georgia Court of Appeals has until mid-May to decide if it’ll review Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee’s decision to allow Willis to remain on the case following the resignation of Wade, the special prosecutor, on March 15.
Willis is fighting calls to stop her from prosecuting the case. A motion she filed last week argues there aren’t any legal grounds for McAfee’s ruling to be reviewed by the court of appeals.
“Setting aside whether Wade’s removal from the case was, in fact, necessary, he withdrew from representation hours after the trial court issued its order, and the District Attorney accepted the resignation,” Willis wrote.
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Georgia is being invaded by tegu lizards that are taking over the state
Argentine black and white tegus have not been a threat to humans and common household pets, but do pose a danger to native species.
USA TODAY
Georgians pride themselves on Southern hospitality, but there’s one animal that’s overstayed its welcome.
The state department of natural resources and its partners are working hard to remove the Argentine tegus trying to build a home here.
What is a tegu?
The tegu is a large, invasive, commonly black and white lizard from Argentina. They can grow up to 4 feet long and weighing 10 pounds or more, according to Georgia Wildlife. Unlike some other lizards, the tegu rarely climbs more than a few feet off the ground, but they are strong swimmers.
From late fall and through the winter months, tegus head into burrows for brumation, a hibernation-type period, to avoid freezing temperatures. They usually breed in the spring and typically lay 35 eggs per year which have a 60-day incubation. They may live up to 20 years.
What does a tegu look like?
The Argentine tegu has mottled black and white skin. The colors are often arranged into a banding pattern across the back and tail. Hatchlings display similar markings, but typically have bright green heads. The green fades after they reach about one month of age.
Where have tegus been reported in Georgia?
The University of Georgia runs an interactive map with detailed info about tegus in Georgia. Over the last few years, there have been 56 reports spread out across counties across the state. Here are the counties with the most reports:
- Tattnall County: 16
- Toombs County: 10
- Gwinnett County: 5
Are tegus dangerous?
Although not considered aggressive toward people, tegus will defend themselves if threatened, according to Georgia Wildlife. They can react fast and lash with their tails. They also have sharp teeth and claws and strong jaws.
Tegus also represent a natural threat because they have few predators and can multiple quickly. They eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds—including quail and turkeys—and other reptiles like the American alligator and gopher tortoise which are protected species. They will also eat chicken eggs, fruit, vegetables, plants, pet food, carrion and small live animals.
Can you kill a tegu if you see it?
Tegus can be trapped or killed on private property in Georgia with the landowner’s permission and using legal methods in accordance with local ordinances, animal cruelty laws, and safety precautions.
Also, on public Wildlife Management Areas, tegus can be killed with firearms legal for the current hunting season. Using traps to catch tegus is not allowed. Anyone who sees a tegu on a WMA should also alert that region’s Game Management office.
How do you report a possible tegu?
Contact Georgia DNR when you see a tegu in the wild, dead or alive. These reports help biologists document occurrences and respond effectively. Note the location, take a photo if possible and report the sighting:
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
ATHENS — Kylie Chung of Cumming chased down two accomplished college players to become the second-youngest winner of the Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship on Wednesday. Not bad for a girl won won’t start high school until this fall.
Chung, 14, a soon-to-be freshman at Lambert High School, birdied the final three holes at Athens Country Club to shoot 5-under 67 to finish 6-under 210. She won by two shots over defending champion Ava Merrill of Johns Creek, who plays at Vanderbilt, and Mary Mille of Savannah, who plays at Ole Miss.
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ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — per gallon on regular gas and 37 cents per gallon on
For two months, Gov. Brian Kemp suspended the state gas tax, saving drivers 33 cents per gallon on regular gas and 37 cents per gallon on diesel. For the average driver who fills up twice a week, that adds up to more than $60 back in their pocket.
“I think it’s uncalled for. It’s very much uncalled for,” said Marie Okafia, a driver.
Looking for alternatives
The sharp spike in prices has some drivers looking for a different way to get to work. Rebecca Serna, executive director of Propel ATL, said riding a bike is a cost-cutting measure, and more people are already doing it.
“We’re seeing more bike lanes, more scoot lanes,” Serna said. “The cost of car ownership has gone up dramatically, but the cost of these other types of transportation have stayed relatively the same. So, it can really save families a lot of money.”
The city has added several miles of protected bike lanes in recent months, making the commute safer for anyone ready to ditch the pump. Propel ATL also noted the opening of the southeast and southside Beltline, connecting to those new bike lanes.
Impact on families
For Georgia families already stretched thin, the timing couldn’t be worse. The price increase affects not just what drivers pay at the gas station, but what they’ll give up somewhere else.
“We’re already grappling with high cost of food, and then we have to face this too. They both go hand-in-hand,” Okafia said.
Atlanta is bringing back its e-bike rebate program this fall. You can learn more about the program and the nonprofit Propel ATL here.
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