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GOP state lawmaker calls for special session in Georgia to probe Fani Willis

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GOP state lawmaker calls for special session in Georgia to probe Fani Willis


A Republican state senator is calling for a special session of the Georgia Legislature to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D), who charged former President Trump and others this week with attempting to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

State Sen. Colton Moore, who represents the northwest corner of Georgia, said Willis’s “political persecution” of Trump and her conduct following the indictment merits a thorough investigation.

“The Legislature has this great check and balance when it comes to controlling the purse. Ultimately, from what I’ve seen, I think she should completely be defunded of any state dollars. People in northwest Georgia and Georgians all over don’t want their tax dollars going to fund this type of political persecution,” Moore told The Hill. 

“If it turns out that she’s doing some corrupt things, then absolutely impeach her,” he said.

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Moore is pressing for a probe into Willis’s conduct due to poor conditions at Fulton County Jail, as investigated by the American Civil Liberties Union, and the drawn-out prosecution of rapper Young Thug.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), whose congressional district overlaps with Moore’s, cheered on the special session effort.

“Great job Colton!” she said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “There must be something done to stop Biden’s political henchmen like Fani Willis!!”

A special legislative session would require an order from Gov. Brian Kemp (R) or three-fifths of both the House and Senate to agree. 

Moore told The Hill that while he expects support from his colleagues, he has not yet heard from members of the House and Senate who agreed on the merits of the effort. He also encouraged Georgians to call on their state legislators to back the special session.

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“I just encourage all Georgia citizens to stop talking and get to action. Call their legislators, encourage them to sign on to this special session and keep the momentum rolling,” he said. “Because conservative Georgians and all Georgians are very upset when you have a political persecution going on.”

Willis filed charges against Trump and 18 others this week, alleging that the former president headed an effort to change the outcome of the 2020 election in Georgia, a state in which President Biden secured the vote. Central to the investigation was a phone call Trump made to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R), during which Trump asked him to “find” enough votes to change the result. 

The case also alleges Trump’s attorneys attempted to set up a slate of fake electoral college votes and lied to and misled state election officials and legislators. The filing also claimed that other Trump allies stole and broke into the voting machines used during the 2020 election in Georgia.

Trump was charged with racketeering, a count usually reserved for the heads of criminal enterprises. Co-defendants included Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman and Sidney Powell as well as former chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Former Georgia GOP Chairman David Shafer was also charged in the fake electors scheme.

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“Rather than abide by Georgia’s legal process for election challenges,” Willis said after the charges were announced, “the defendants engaged in a criminal, racketeering enterprise to overturn Georgia’s presidential election result.”

Moore called the charges “totally nonsense,” accusing Willis of persecuting Trump for protected speech.

Willis has asked for a trial to begin March 4, 2024, though the date will be decided by a judge. She said that she wants all 19 defendants to be tried together.

Trump faces three other criminal cases, all of which are expected to have trial dates early next year. 

A New York state case over alleged falsified business records for hush money payments is scheduled for March 25. The federal trial into allegations he mishandled classified documents is slated for May 20 in Florida. 

The most recent federal indictment, over similar allegations that Trump attempted to overturn the 2020 election, does not have a trial date scheduled. Special counsel Jack Smith requested a Jan. 2 start.

The Hill has reached out to Kemp for comment.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.





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Leadership Southeast Georgia focuses on education and agriculture in Bulloch and Screven counties

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Leadership Southeast Georgia focuses on education and agriculture in Bulloch and Screven counties


The Leadership Southeast Georgia Class of 2025 gathered in Bulloch and Screven counties in early May to explore the vital roles of education and agriculture in the region’s growth and sustainability.

The Leadership Southeast Georgia (LSEGA) Class of 2025 met in early May for its fourth session, exploring the impact of education and the economic significance of agriculture in Bulloch and Screven counties. The session offered participants firsthand insight into local schools, agribusiness operations, and the challenges and opportunities shaping these key sectors.

Through interactive panel discussions, expert-led presentations, and immersive site visits, the session deepened participants’ understanding of how education and agriculture intersect to support growth and sustainability in Southeast Georgia. Designed to foster informed, collaborative leadership, the program introduced emerging regional leaders to key voices and institutions influencing the area’s future. 

“Strengthening our efforts in education and supporting agriculture, a fundamental aspect of this area’s economic base, is a perfect example of why LSEGA exists. When leaders learn more, they can collaborate and develop solutions that improve crucial facets of our community and overcome challenges that negatively affect quality of life and reduce opportunities,” said Ric Stewart, Program Manager, LSEGA Class of 2024 graduate, and Development Manager at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN).

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The session opened at Georgia Southern University’s Engineering and Research Building in Statesboro, where Sylvania Mayor Preston Dees welcomed the class.

Session Highlights:

  • Higher Education Panel: Facilitated by Suzanne Kirk, the session featured insights from Dr. Kyle Marrero (Georgia Southern University), Dr. Brandy Taylor (Ogeechee Technical College), and Dr. David Schecter (East Georgia State College), followed by a tour of the Engineering and Research Building.
  • Migrant Labor and Agriculture: Andrea Hinojosa led a candid conversation on the essential role of migrant workers in Georgia’s agricultural economy.
  • Education in Historical Context: Dr. Amber Davis, Director of Leadership at the Southern Education Foundation, delivered a presentation titled “A Brief Overview of Education History in the South.”
  • K-12 Panel Discussion: Moderated by Dr. Meca Williams-Johnson, Associate Dean of Research at Georgia Southern’s College of Education, the panel addressed current challenges and innovations in primary and secondary education.
  • Agribusiness Site Visits: Participants toured Double B Ranch & Poultry and Wade Hodges Farm, gaining hands-on exposure to local agricultural operations. A Q&A with Benjy Thompson, Director of the Bulloch County Development Authority, and a farmer-led panel discussion rounded out the experience.

“Education and agriculture are cornerstones of any thriving community,” said Kendria Lee, LSEGA Chairwoman. “By developing leaders who understand and support these industries, we’re laying the groundwork for long-term regional success.”

LSEGA’s programs are supported by sponsors including Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Evans General Contractors, Georgia Southern University,  M.E. Sack Engineering, The Sack Company, Thomas & Hutton, Savannah Technical College, Georgia Power, HunterMaclean, Bouhan Falligant, Savannah Economic Development Authority, Savannah Area Chamber, Goodwill Southeast Georgia, Coleman Company, World Trade Center Savannah, Southeastern Bank, Bank of Newington, Cecilia Russo Marketing, Dabbs, Hickman, Hill & Cannon, and Hussey Gay Bell.

Local sponsors for the Bulloch and Screven counties session included BBWH Insurors, Dabbs, Hickman, Hill and Cannon, BAK Builders, Lee, Hill & Johnston Insurers, St. Andrews Builders, Ellis Wood Contracting, Hall & Navarro, Synovus, Renasant Bank, Morris Bank, and Hussey Gay Bell.

To learn more about the Leadership Southeast Georgia program and its impact on the region, visit lsega.com.

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Boxer Georgia O'Connor Dead at 25 After Cancer Diagnosis and Miscarriage

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Boxer Georgia O'Connor Dead at 25 After Cancer Diagnosis and Miscarriage


Due to her delayed diagnosis, she said her cancer had spread and she also had blood clots in her lungs.

“Not one doctor took me seriously,” she continued. “Not one doctor did the scans or blood tests I begged for whilst crying on the floor in agony. Instead, they dismissed me. They gaslit me, told me it was nothing, made me feel like I was overreacting. They refused to scan me. They refused to investigate. They REFUSED to listen.”

After publicly sharing her cancer battle, O’Connor explained that she had suffered a miscarriage just before her diagnosis. However, she still chose to stay positive. 

“I’ve been pregnant with a beautiful baby, suffered a miscarriage, then got diagnosed with ‘incurable’ cancer,” she wrote on Instagram February 18 in honor of her 25th birthday. “But I still feel on top of the world!”

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One such highlight was her wedding less than two weeks before her passing. O’Connor shared that she had married her longtime boyfriend Adriano Cardinali on May 9, posting photos of the nuptials on Instagram.

As she put it in the caption, “I married the love of my life.”





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Police say Georgia Tech student's shooting death was 'targeted act'

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Police say Georgia Tech student's shooting death was 'targeted act'


Atlanta Police released surveillance footage of a possible suspect in the shooting death of a Georgia Tech student on May 18 at an off-campus apartment building. (Courtesy APD)

The shooting death of a Georgia Tech student on May 18 was a “targeted act,” according to the Atlanta Police Department.

During a Wednesday press conference, APD said the student – identified as 22-year-old Akash Banerjee by the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office – was shot in the head on the ninth floor of The Connector student apartments at 699 Spring St. in Midtown. He was transported to Grady Hospital, where he died on Tuesday.

“We’re at a point where we believe this was a targeted act,” APD Homicide Commander Andrew Smith said during the press conference.

APD released surveillance video showing a suspect walking down the ninth-floor hallway of the apartment building with what appears to be a gun in his pocket around 10 minutes before the shooting. Smith said the suspected shooter had been to the building previously looking for Banerjee.

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Smith said Banerjee was shot in the ninth-floor hallway following an altercation with the suspect. The Connector has key card access, and Smith said it was unknown how the shooter gained access to the building.

Smith said investigators were still trying to determine the connection between the suspect and Banerjee, who had a “criminal history.” Smith declined to elaborate on Banerjee’s criminal record and if that might be what led to the shooting.

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Collin Kelley is the executive editor of Atlanta Intown, Georgia Voice, and the Rough Draft newsletter. He has been a journalist for nearly four decades and is also an award-winning poet and novelist.
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