Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) on Wednesday filed a movement to quash a subpoena compelling him to testify within the Fulton County district lawyer’s felony investigation into former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 election outcomes.
Kemp, who fell out of Trump’s favor for refusing to again the ex-president’s election lies, says in the motion that the subpoena “is being pursued at this time for improper political purposes” and interferes with the gubernatorial election in November.
“Through artificial deadlines, the DA’s Office has engineered the governor’s interaction with the investigation to reach crescendo in the middle of an election cycle,” says the petition, submitted by Kemp lawyer Brian F. McEvoy.
It provides: “Unfortunately, what began as an investigation into election interference has itself devolved into its own mechanism of election interference.”
Kemp had been cooperating with the DA’s probe into Trump’s election interference and voluntarily agreed to an interview on July 25, in line with the movement. That interview was canceled after Kemp inquired about its scope and a subpoena was issued earlier this month compelling the governor’s look earlier than the panel on Thursday.
The DA might have requested Kemp’s testimony effectively forward of Georgia’s November election, by which Kemp faces Democrat Stacey Abrams, or after the election, Kemp’s movement argues.
As proof of his cooperation, Kemp’s movement says his workplace “voluntarily produced” about 137,000 pages of paperwork.
Trump reportedly referred to as Kemp in December 2020, asking him to carry a particular legislative session to overturn the presidential election outcome, and to nominate an alternate slate of electors that will assist Trump as a substitute of election winner Joe Biden. Kemp refused the request, according to The Washington Post.
Trump has since taken revenge towards the governor, endorsing his opponent, David Purdue, within the Republican gubernatorial main. Kemp prevailed in that race by a large margin.
On Wednesday, the DA’s particular grand jury heard from Trump’s former private lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who appeared for six hours, according to the Post. Giuliani this week was knowledgeable he’s a felony goal of the probe.
“We were told Mayor Giuliani has completed his grand jury obligations,” protection lawyer Robert Costello mentioned after Giuliani’s testimony.
Costello added: “At the end the DA came out of her office to meet Giuliani. She was very friendly.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) requested a decide to dam an order for him to testify earlier than the grand jury on Aug. 23, according to CNN. Graham argued he would “suffer irreparable harm” if pressured to look earlier than he exhausts all appeals.
