ATLANTA — Georgia lawmakers have given final passage to a bill creating an oversight commission for prosecutors.
Republicans said this was about what they described as rogue prosecutors from north Georgia to coastal Georgia. They never mentioned Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, though Democrats arguing against it did.
"You have district attorneys like Deborah Gonzalez who have no clue how to do their job and are failing victims across this state," state Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) told House members Tuesday, targeting Clarke County's Democratic district attorney.
She drew the wrath of Republicans when she announced she would be sensitive to immigration and racial inequity issues when prosecuting crimes.
Republicans said the oversight commission could also dislodge DAs like Jackie Johnson, who faced obstruction charges in coastal Glynn County after slowing the investigation into the killing Ahmaud Arbrey.
"I believe Glynn County was a rogue prosecutor, not doing what she should be doing at the time," state Rep. Joseph Gullett (R-Dallas) told the House Tuesday.
But Democrat Sam Park said the bill would undoubtedly target Fani Willis, the Fulton DA prosecuting an election interference case against former president Donald Trump.
"As far as I can tell, the only crime district attorney Fani Willis has committed is her effectiveness and competence," Park told House colleagues.
He accused Republicans of "finding new and creative ways to protect twice impeached President Donald Trump from criminal investigation, which is what this bill would do."
The House passed the measure on a mostly party line vote. Its sponsors said it will be applied equally to prosecutors of all political persuasions.
"This is not a knee-jerk reaction to anything that has happened in our state in the last month, six months or any time," House speaker Rep. Jon Burns (R-Newington) told reporters after the vote.
Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to sign it into law. When that happens, it’s likely complaints will get filed against Democrats Willis and Gonzalez. The Republican governor, lieutenant governor and house speaker will appoint the commission members.