Atlanta, GA — Lt. Gov. Burt Jones Cleared of Criminal Charges in Election Interference Case
In a significant development out of Atlanta, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has been cleared of any criminal charges related to the 2020 election interference probe. He was alleged to have acted as a fake elector on behalf of former President Donald Trump, but recent rulings have found no evidence of criminal intent in his actions.
According to Pete Skandalakis, executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, Jones did not act with the intent required to commit a crime. “The evidence reveals Sen. Jones acted in a manner consistent with his position representing the concerns of his constituents and in reliance upon the advice of attorneys when he served as an alternate elector,” stated Skandalakis. He also added, “The evidence also indicates Sen. Jones did not act with criminal intent, which is an essential element of committing any crime.”
Jones was notably absent from the list of 19 individuals indicted in August 2023 related to the alleged election interference. The responsibility for investigating Jones was passed to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was found to have a conflict of interest, due to hosting a fundraiser for Jones’ political opponent in the lieutenant governor race.
Addressing this in his ruling, Skandalakis wrote, “I find Sen. Jones’ involvement and actions during the times in question to be within the scope of his duties as a Senator to address the concerns of constituents, and that his participation in voting as an alternate elector on Dec. 14, 2020, was a result of relying upon the advice of attorneys and legal scholars. Therefore, this case does not warrant further investigation or further actions, and I consider the matter closed.”
This ruling came just a day after another major development related to the broader election interference case. Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Georgia prosecutors couldn’t bring forward two charges against Trump related to false documents filed in federal court. Trump still faces multiple charges, including racketeering, for allegedly trying to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. However, an official court date for Trump’s trial has not yet been set.
Jones’ exoneration simplifies a complex case that has affected multiple high-profile political figures. His reliance on legal advice and his actions as a state senator to represent his constituents played a critical role in the decision to close the case against him. As this story unfolds, all eyes remain on the legal proceedings ahead for Trump and his co-defendants.
For now, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones can focus on his duties without the looming specter of criminal charges related to the 2020 election.
