{"id":2333572,"date":"2024-08-29T14:12:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T18:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kemp-consults-ag-about-removing-gop-election-board-members\/"},"modified":"2024-08-29T14:16:16","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T18:16:16","slug":"kemp-consults-ag-about-removing-gop-election-board-members","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kemp-consults-ag-about-removing-gop-election-board-members\/","title":{"rendered":"Kemp Consults AG About Removing GOP Election Board Members"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkemp-consults-ag-about-removing-gop-election-board-members%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2333572&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Georgia \u2063Governor Brian \u2064Kemp is in discussions with the state&#8217;s\u200d attorney general regarding the\u200c potential removal of three members of the\u2063 Republican State Election Board\u200c (SEB). \u200bThis consultation comes after a complaint from Democratic lawmakers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-teachers-march-students-out-of-school-to-vote-on-a-tax-hike\/\" title=\"Chicago Teachers Lead Student March to Vote on Tax Increase\">alleging ethics violations<\/a> and \u2062an intimidation campaign aimed at these board members for their\u2064 efforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/media-smear-gop-candidate-seeking-to-primary-leftist-friendly-arizona-election-official\/\" title=\"Media Criticizes GOP Candidate Challenging Arizona Election Official\">uphold election \u200dintegrity<\/a>.\u200b The complaint, sent to Kemp on August 19\u200d and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/more-like-a-two-bit-politician-ted-cruz-says-its-time-for-dr-fauci-to-go\/\" title=\"\u2018More Like A Two-Bit Politician\u2019: Ted Cruz Says \u2018Its Time For Dr. Fauci To Go\u2019\">made public recently<\/a>, accuses the members of adopting rules that could undermine fair elections and of colluding \u2064with\u2062 the Georgia Republican Party.<\/p>\n<p>Kemp&#8217;s office has stated that it will seek further\u200c advice from the attorney general to determine if it has \u2062the authority to act on these complaints. The allegations have been described by various\u2062 commentators as an intimidation tactic,\u2062 targeting both the governor \u200band the \u200cSEB\u200d for their compliance with state law. The \u2064complaint is particularly controversial as it contends the board\u2064 members are coordinating with a political party to influence election regulations, which they deny.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of the board members \u200cargue that their actions are legitimate and necessary \u200dfor\u200b ensuring trustworthy election\u200d processes. The situation has \u200bsparked a significant political\u2062 controversy in Georgia, raising questions about election oversight and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-racine-wisconsins-voting-van-unfairly-benefited-democrats-and-was-contrary-to-law\/\" title=\"Judge: Voting Van in Racine, Wisconsin Unfairly Favored Democrats, Violated Law\">potential partisan influence<\/a> in state governance.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is consulting with the state&rsquo;s attorney general about the possibility of removing the three Republican State Election Board (SEB) members, Kemp&rsquo;s office says. The consultation follows Democrats launching what is being described as an intimidation campaign to oust the trio for their efforts to secure elections.<\/p>\n<p>The Democrat-led <a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1SFpaNyFX1iEnXPW528xJlijXASVZ50Oe\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">complaint<\/a>, which was sent to Kemp on Aug. 19 but reportedly made <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wctv.tv\/2024\/08\/27\/georgia-lawmaker-files-complaint-asks-investigation-into-state-election-board-members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">public<\/a> on Monday, seeks the removal of the three board members over three allegations.<\/p>\n<p>The governor&rsquo;s office released a statement indicating Kemp would forward the matter to the state attorney general for further advice.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This office has received Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes and other&rsquo;s letters alleging ethics violations by members of the State Elections Board,&rdquo; the statement from Kemp&rsquo;s press secretary reads. &ldquo;Due to uncertainty regarding whether this office has authority to act under Code Section 45-10-4 in response to these complaints, we have sought the Attorney General&rsquo;s advice regarding the application of the statute to the letters. We will respond following receipt of this advice and further evaluation of the letters.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Kemp is actually listening to calls from Democrats,&rdquo; writer <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JustinGlawe\/status\/1828076417973661747\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justin Glawe<\/a> posted on X, citing the statement. <\/p>\n<p>But the complaint is being criticized as an &ldquo;intimidation campaign targeting Gov. Kemp&rdquo; and the &ldquo;Georgia Election Board for complying with state law,&rdquo; as noted in a recent <a href=\"https:\/\/electiontransparency.org\/2024\/08\/27\/progressives-wage-intimidation-campaign-targeting-gov-kemp-georgia-election-board-for-complying-with-state-law\/\">press release<\/a> from the Election Transparency Initiative.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As a member of the State Senate, [Nabilah Islam-Parkes] had every opportunity to advance legislation that would change Georgia&rsquo;s reconciliation law, but she never even tried,&rdquo; the National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative <a href=\"https:\/\/electiontransparency.org\/2024\/08\/27\/progressives-wage-intimidation-campaign-targeting-gov-kemp-georgia-election-board-for-complying-with-state-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ken Cuccinelli<\/a> said in a statement. &ldquo;Now, she and her allies are attempting to intimidate Gov. Kemp into hijacking the duly appointed board and the rulemaking process for the purpose of preventing counties from complying with the law.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We urge Gov. Kemp and Attorney General Carr to reject the frivolous process complaints and handwringing of progressives,&rdquo; Cuccinelli continued.<\/p>\n<p>The Heritage Foundation&rsquo;s Hans von Spakovsky told The Federalist he is &ldquo;surprised and shocked that Gov. Kemp &hellip; would be inquiring into removing the three GOP members of the State Board of Elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The complaint first alleges the three Republican members adopted &ldquo;a rule that will interfere with free and fair elections across the state of Georgia.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/28\/dems-want-ga-county-officials-to-rubber-stamp-elections-no-questions-asked-dnc-suit-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEB passed a series of rules<\/a> clarifying that county election boards have the right to make a &ldquo;reasonable inquiry&rdquo; into elections prior to certification. Another rule, in part, <a href=\"https:\/\/sos.ga.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-07\/notice_of_proposed_rulemaking_183_1_12_12_1_v2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">clarifies<\/a>&nbsp;board members are &ldquo;permitted to examine all election related documentation created during the conduct of elections prior to certification of results.&rdquo; This rule, proposed by Salleigh Grubbs, does not change the certification deadline, but rather <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/28\/dems-want-ga-county-officials-to-rubber-stamp-elections-no-questions-asked-dnc-suit-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">explicitly notes<\/a> the 5:00 p.m. certification deadline on the Monday following the election. Despite the complaint&rsquo;s allegations, these rules effectively say county officials do not have to rubber-stamp results without first knowing what they&rsquo;re signing off on.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement to The Federalist, one Republican SEB member who is named in the complaint, Janelle King, said, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a disservice to all voters when our election process is subpar. We, the people, pay for every aspect of the election process, and we deserve to have it done right. It&rsquo;s not about the outcome, it&rsquo;s about the process. If the process is right, you can then trust the outcome.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The complaint then alleges that the members &mdash; among whom are also Dr. Janice Johnston and Rick Jeffares &mdash; &ldquo;have illegally coordinated with the Georgia Republican Party, taking advice, guidance, and instruction as to how to subvert the law in their official capacity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>King told The Federalist that Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon &ldquo;has not advised us or asked us to do anything.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[W]e are not being advised or instructed by anyone,&rdquo; King continued.<\/p>\n<p>The final allegation is that the members &ldquo;illegally convened and participated in a secretly planned meeting on July 12, 2024 &hellip; .&rdquo; But King told The Federalist that the &ldquo;July 12 meeting was a continuation of a meeting that was sent into recess by &hellip; chairman [John Fervier] on July 9th. She compared it to &ldquo;this month&rsquo;s meeting, which spanned &hellip; the course of multiple days and did not require a 30-day, 7-day, or 24-hour notice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We acted in good faith, meeting quorum requirements, and providing a 24-hour door posting for those who wish to participate,&rdquo; King continued. &ldquo;Clearly attending virtually is permitted considering our last board meeting was 100% virtual. The ethics complaint is an attempt to stall the work that is being done and [is] disrespectful to all Georgians.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The complaint asks Kemp to &ldquo;remove&rdquo; the three board members and &ldquo;further, refer the matter to the Attorney General for prosecution, in the event that [he] discover[s] evidence of an actionable violation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>President and CEO of Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections Derek Lyons said in a statement given to The Federalist that this &ldquo;noise is what happens every time someone tries to ensure the integrity of our elections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to remember that what they&rsquo;re complaining about is the mere idea of having local boards check that election results are accurate before certifying them,&rdquo; Lyons continued. &ldquo;So, you have to ask yourself, what are the reasons to object to that?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republican Georgia Governor Brian Kemp is seeking advice from the state attorney general regarding the potential removal of three Republican members from the State Election Board (SEB), according to his office. This move comes after Democrats initiated what they are calling an intimidation campaign aimed at displacing these board members due to their actions in safeguarding elections. The complaint, led by Democrats and sent to Kemp on August 19 but made public recently, accuses the three board members of three specific allegations.<\/p>\n<p>Kemp&#8217;s office issued a statement indicating that he would refer this issue to the attorney general for further guidance. The statement noted that they had received letters from Senator Nabilah Islam Parkes and others alleging ethical violations by SEB members. Due to uncertainty about whether his office has the authority to act under a specific code section in response to these complaints, Kemp is seeking legal advice before proceeding.<\/p>\n<p>Critics have labeled this complaint as an &#8220;intimidation campaign&#8221; against both Governor Kemp and the Georgia Election Board for adhering to state law. Ken Cuccinelli, National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative, pointed out that Senator Islam-Parkes had opportunities as a State Senate member to propose changes but did not do so; now she is allegedly trying to pressure Gov. Kemp into undermining a legally appointed board.<\/p>\n<p>Hans von Spakovsky from The Heritage Foundation expressed surprise at Gov. Kemp&#8217;s inquiry into removing these GOP SEB members. The initial allegation claims that these Republican members enacted rules that could disrupt free and fair elections in Georgia. These rules clarify county election boards&#8217; rights regarding inquiries into elections before certification and specify documentation examination procedures without altering certification deadlines.<\/p>\n<p>Janelle King, one of the named SEB members, emphasized that ensuring a proper election process benefits all voters since they fund it and deserve it done correctly\u2014stressing trust in outcomes relies on correct processes.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint also alleges illegal coordination between SEB members\u2014Dr. Janice Johnston and Rick Jeffares\u2014and the Georgia Republican Party concerning subverting laws while acting officially; however, King refuted this claim by stating they have not received any directives or advice from party officials.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, there are accusations about convening secret meetings; King clarified that their July 12 meeting was merely a continuation of an earlier session held on July 9th with appropriate notice given for participation.<\/p>\n<p>The complaint requests Gov. Kemp remove these board members and refer them for prosecution if evidence supports actionable violations are found.<\/p>\n<p>Derek Lyons from Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections remarked on how such complaints arise whenever efforts are made toward maintaining electoral integrity while questioning why anyone would oppose local boards verifying election results prior to certification<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":2333573,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brian_Kemp_Jerusalem_2023.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[39671,34493,6203,15341],"class_list":["post-2333572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-consults","tag-election-board","tag-gop","tag-kemp"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Brian_Kemp_Jerusalem_2023.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2333572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2333572"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2333572\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2333573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2333572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2333572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2333572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}