Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) has rejected calls from some members of his party to hold a special session of the General Assembly to censure or remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, citing the potential unconstitutionality of such an action. Kemp also noted that the state has a process in place to deal with any misconduct by elected officials, and has called for an independent audit of the 2020 election results. Willis is currently overseeing the indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 co-defendants on felony charges as part of her investigation into their efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
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Dr. Brian Monahan, Attending Physician of Congress, has declared Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell medically cleared to continue with his duties after experiencing a second freezing episode. McConnell, 81, had previously suffered a concussion in March, but Monahan determined that occasional lightheadedness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected as a result of dehydration. McConnell is expected to continue his duties as normal.
Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty to 13 felony charges related to overturning the 2020 presidential election, entering his plea through a filing released by his attorney. This has sparked controversy in Georgia, with far right members of the state legislature attempting to punish the Fulton County District Attorney, Fani Willis, for the indictment. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has shot down these proposals, and at least five state senators have reported receiving threats from Trump supporters. The outcome of the case remains to be seen.
Donald Trump has entered a plea of not guilty to 13 felony counts related to an alleged scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia. He waived his right to be present at his arraignment and submitted the plea in writing, as is allowed under Georgia law. This is the first time a president in U.S. history has faced criminal charges after leaving office, and it is still unclear how the case will proceed.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has disclosed trips paid for by his friend, billionaire Harlan Crow, in his annual financial disclosure report. This has renewed focus on judicial ethics, as it is the first disclosure form filed by the justice since he came under scrutiny for his relationship with the Texas developer. The remaining seven justices have filed their 2022 reports, but it is unclear if any of them have had similar trips paid for by outside sources.
Fabian Nelson, a 38-year-old realtor from Byram, Mississippi, has won the Democratic primary election runoff, making him the first openly gay state legislator in Mississippi. He will face Republican candidate Robert Foster in the November general election, and if elected, he will be the first openly gay black man to serve in any state legislature in the United States. Nelson has been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ rights and has said he has wanted to be a state legislator since he visited the state capitol as a high school student.
Over 100 former clerks of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas have signed a letter defending his "integrity" and "independence" in response to reports of unethical gift-giving. The signatories argue that the reports are part of a "larger attack on the Court" and its "legitimacy", and include high profile circuit court judges and John C. Eastman, who is now criminally indicted in Georgia. The letter focuses on defending Justice Thomas' "integrity, character and ethics" without addressing Eastman's involvement.
New York Attorney General Letitia James' office has alleged that former President Donald Trump routinely overstated his personal net worth to financial institutions by up to $2.2 billion each year between 2011 and 2021. The lawsuit, filed in October 2020, seeks $250 million in damages from Trump, his three eldest children, and the Trump Organization, and the filing seeks to have the court declare that Trump and his company violated New York's civil and business laws. The case is scheduled for trial in October, with the outcome potentially having major implications for the former president and his family.