Georgia's lieutenant governor will not be charged in an investigation into his post-2020 election actions, the prosecutor in charge of the investigation announced Friday.
Lt. Governor Bert Jones (R) previously worked on an investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (Democrat) that led to criminal charges against former President Trump and his associates, but Willis was disbarred from pursuing Jones.
Peter Skandalakis, executive director of the Georgia Council of Prosecutors, who took over oversight of Jones' investigation in April, announced Friday that no charges would be filed.
“After reviewing the evidence, we have determined that this matter does not warrant further consideration,” Skandalakis said in a statement.
“The evidence shows that while serving as a pro-elector, Senator Jones acted in a manner consistent with his position to represent the concerns of his constituents and to rely on the advice of his legal counsel,” he continued. “The evidence also shows that Senator Jones did not act with criminal intent, an essential element of committing a crime.”
Jones, a state senator at the time, was one of 16 Trump supporters who signed Electoral College documents falsely claiming that former President Trump won the 2020 election, even though President Biden won Georgia. Jones also tried to call a special session of the state Legislature.
Prosecutors said Jones' actions were “reasonable and not criminal in nature,” that he relied on legal advice as a by-election candidate and that he otherwise acted within his authority as a state senator.
“While the advice may ultimately be determined to be inaccurate, Senator Jones, like any other member of the public, should not be penalized for relying on the advice of counsel under these particular facts and circumstances,” Skandalakis wrote. “In the context of a criminal case, constitutionally ineffective legal advice can result in the vacating of a criminal conviction.”
“It is my experience and belief that people should be encouraged to consult with an attorney when faced with uncertain legal issues. It is antithetical to our justice system to potentially punish someone for exercising that right,” he added.
The incident was first reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Scandalakis' four-page statement indicates Jones cooperated fully with the investigation, including participating in four voluntary interviews and turning over text messages that were not available to Willis when he was considering filing charges.
A state court disqualified District Attorney Willis from prosecuting Jones after he hosted the headline fundraiser for the Democratic candidate who will face Jones in the lieutenant governor election.
In a statement, Jones said he looked forward to focusing on the job he was “elected to do.”
“I have always wanted to tell my story before a fair and unbiased prosecutor, but Fani Willis clearly is not. I am pleased that she finally has that opportunity. Willis has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in her attempts to weaponize the justice system, gain political publicity and fund an inappropriate relationship with her boyfriend,” Jones said.
