A Georgia judge has dismissed a Republican lawsuit seeking to prevent voters from hand-delivering mail-in ballots. The lawsuit targeted Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold, for opening its offices over the weekend to allow voters to drop off their ballots. The judge ruled that state law allows for hand-delivery of ballots until the polls close on Election Day.
The Georgia Republican Party has threatened to sue Fulton County, a Democratic stronghold, over its decision to extend election office hours this weekend for voters to hand-return absentee ballots. The GOP argues that the move violates state law, while Democrats maintain it’s a legitimate way to accommodate voters. This comes amidst ongoing tensions over election procedures in the crucial battleground state.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has won the Democratic primary in her bid for reelection. She will now face Republican challenger Courtney Kramer in the general election. Willis beat challenger Christian Wise Smith in the primary. She is known for her role in the racketeering case against former President Donald Trump and is one of the most high-profile judges in Georgia. Meanwhile, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has also won the primary election. McAfee was appointed to fill an empty seat just over a year ago and is now set to serve a full four-year term.
House Republicans have invited attorney Nathan Wade to testify before the House Judiciary Committee regarding his role in the election interference case against former President Trump. The invitation comes amid allegations that Wade and Fulton County DA Fani Willis were romantically involved prior to his hiring and that she financially benefited from the relationship. Both Willis and Wade have denied the allegations.
Georgia senators expressed concerns over the lack of oversight of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ $36.6 million budget during a hearing on Friday. The hearing was part of an investigation into allegations of potential conflicts of interest and misuse of public funds by Willis. Witnesses testified that Willis has broad discretion over how to spend the funds, including the authority to hire special prosecutors without seeking pre-approval. The findings of the investigation could lead to reforms or adjustments to the state appropriations process to restore public confidence in the district attorney’s office.
The Georgia GOP has spent over $1.7 million defending officials charged with election subversion, including former President Trump. The party faces dwindling cash reserves, leaving less than $450,000 on hand. Georgia Governor Kemp has criticized the use of party funds for Trump-related legal expenses.
