Gov. Kemp tries to avoid testimony in Trump probe
August 18, 2022
Also in today’s edition of Swing State Georgia:
Rudy Giuliani can still fly on a plane.
Democrats are spitting mad over Kemp aid plan.
Kristi Noem helps Herschel Walker.
To the outside world, Gov. Brian Kemp seemed ready to cooperate with Fulton County investigators delving into Donald Trump’s attempt to overturn his 2020 defeat.
Behind closed doors, it has been far, far messier.
The nasty infighting emerged into public view in a 122-page court filing first reported by our AJC colleague Tamar Hallerman. Deep in the legal document by Kemp’s team, which aims to kill a subpoena seeking his testimony, are emails that paint a vivid portrait of a frayed relationship.
The correspondence starts with a cordial back-and-forth but soon took on a nastier tone after Kemp attorney Brian McEvoy accused prosecutors of moving the goalposts and of presiding over a flawed investigation.
That prompted a scathing email from District Attorney Fani Willis accusing McEvoy of conduct “beneath an officer of the court.”
“We have been working with you in good faith for months. You have been rude and disparaging to my staff. You have been less than honest about conversations that have taken place,” Willis wrote, adding:
“There is an old adage that people take kindness for weakness. You have taken my kindness for weakness and you have continually treated this investigation with disdain. Despite your disdain this investigation continues and will not be derailed by anyone’s antics.”
Gov. Kemp was scheduled to testify this morning before the special grand jury. But now that’s on hold.
Kemp has never really said much about the post-2020 election efforts by Trump and his associates to throw the Georgia results.
For example, we know that Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger - but we have no idea if Trump called Kemp to lobby for help in overturning the election.
But the DA’s office offered a telling glimpse into what they’re looking for in a follow-up email to Kemp’s counsel.
Among the requests:
Documents detailing what Trump was trying to do in Georgia.
Logs of telephone calls from Trump or his associates about the elections.
Emails, texts, letters, or documents regarding the efforts to reverse Trump's loss in Georgia.
And correspondence between the Governor and any state officials regarding the election results in 2020.
Investigators seek any document that “explains what former President Trump was thinking or doing or those working on his behalf,” files regarding efforts by Trump or his allies to influence the results, and any recordings of witnesses that “provide context and understanding” of the 2020 vote.
POLITICAL PUNCHES. Democrats quickly accused Gov. Brian Kemp of trying to cozy up to Donald Trump with his effort to avoid testifying before the November midterms.
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