A special prosecutor has been appointed to examine whether Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones should face criminal charges related to his involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state. The Prosecuting Attorneys' Council of Georgia has designated its executive director, Pete Skandalakis, to handle the matter following a decision that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified from prosecuting Jones in connection with her election interference case against former President Donald Trump and others.
Jones, along with 15 other state Republicans, signed a certificate asserting that Trump had won Georgia and declaring themselves as the state’s “duly elected and qualified” electors, despite Democrat Joe Biden being declared the winner in the state. Additionally, Jones, while serving as a state senator post-election, advocated for a special session of Georgia’s Legislature with the aim of overturning Biden's narrow victory in the state.
Amid Willis' investigation into potential illegal election interference by Trump and associates, Jones contended that Willis should be barred from pursuing charges against him due to her past support for his Democratic opponent in the lieutenant governor's race. A Superior Court Judge ruled in July 2022 that Willis' actions had created an “actual and untenable” conflict of interest, leading to the appointment of Skandalakis by the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council to determine whether Jones should be prosecuted.
Jones has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating that he and other electors followed legal advice to safeguard Trump’s prospects in case the former president prevailed in a pending court challenge. Following the indictment of Trump and several others in August by a Fulton County grand jury, Jones expressed satisfaction with Skandalakis' appointment, expressing eagerness for a swift resolution to the matter.
The indictment accused Trump and 18 others of participating in an extensive scheme to unlawfully attempt to overturn Trump's defeat in Georgia. While four individuals have pleaded guilty after reaching agreements with prosecutors, the remaining defendants, including Trump, have pleaded not guilty. A trial date has yet to be scheduled.
