Lt. Gov. Burt Jones of Georgia is under investigation for his involvement as a fake elector for Donald J. Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Fani T. Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County, Georgia, has filed charges against Mr. Trump and his associates in a wide-ranging election case, including Mr. Jones. However, due to a conflict of interest, Ms. Willis was disqualified from continuing to investigate Mr. Jones.
As per Georgia law, a new prosecutor must be appointed when a conflict of interest arises. After facing criticism for the delay in selecting a replacement prosecutor, Pete Skandalakis, the head of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, announced that he would personally handle the case involving Mr. Jones. Mr. Jones, a staunch supporter of Mr. Trump, is said to be laying the groundwork for a potential gubernatorial run in 2026, as current Governor Brian Kemp is unable to seek re-election due to term limits.
The indictment of Mr. Trump and his associates has intensified the spotlight on Mr. Skandalakis, who has faced backlash for the slow progress in choosing a new prosecutor for the Jones case. Despite challenges in finding a suitable replacement, Mr. Skandalakis has committed to overseeing the matter himself. If successful, this decision could impact the outcome of the case and potentially address allegations of partisanship and limited resources for potential replacements.
