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A28 u.s. news
Diamars 1 Februari 2022

Georgia DA investigating Trump asks FBI for security help

ever had in Washington, D.C, with county officials on the tia James, who recently said
in New York, in Atlanta and need for extra security mea- her office has uncovered evi-
elsewhere, because our coun- sures as the investigation pro- dence that Trump’s company
try and our elections are cor- gresses. used “fraudulent or mislead-
rupt,” Trump said. ing” valuations of his proper-
But she said security con- ties to secure loans and tax
The comments were particu- cerns were “escalated” over benefits. That includes play-
larly notable given Trump’s the weekend as Trump fo- ing a video at a previous rally
role in inciting the Jan. 6, cused on the prosecutors that features footage of her
2021, storming of the Capi- looking into his actions, call- vowing to take on Trump as
tol building. Trump also sug- ing them “vicious, horrible she ran for election.
gested he might pardon those people” and “racists.” The
charged for their role in the rhetoric is especially alarm- Trump did not mention
riot if he runs for president ing, Willis wrote, in light of James, Willis, or any of the
again and wins reelection. Trump’s suggestion that if he others by name Saturday.
returns to the White House,
Willis last year opened an in- he could give pardons to Willis has declined to speak
vestigation into any potential people who stormed the U.S. about the specifics of her in-
attempts to improperly influ- Capitol last year in an effort vestigation, but in a recent
ence the 2020 general elec- to block the certification of interview with The Associ-
tion in Georgia by Trump and Biden’s win. ated Press, she confirmed
(AP) — The prosecu- the FBI to provide protective his associates. A special grand that its scope includes — but
tor who’s investigating resources, “to include intelli- jury is set to be seated May “We must work together to is not limited to — a Jan. 2,
whether Donald Trump gence and federal agents.” 2 to aid in that investigation keep the public safe and en- 2021, phone call between
and others broke the law and Willis asked the FBI to sure that we do not have a Trump and Georgia Secretary
by trying to pressure Geor- At his rally Saturday night take the steps she requested tragedy in Atlanta similar to of State Brad Raffensperger,
gia officials to overturn outside Houston, Trump well in advance of that date. what happened at the United a November 2020 phone call
Joe Biden’s presidential lashed out against the ongo- States Capitol on January 6, between U.S. Sen. Lindsey
election victory is asking ing investigations in New “My staff and I will not be 2021,” Willis wrote in the let- Graham and Raffensperger,
the FBI for security help York, Georgia and Washing- influenced or intimidated ter to the FBI. the abrupt resignation of the
after the former president ton and called on his sup- by anyone as this investiga- U.S. attorney in Atlanta on
railed against prosecutors porters to stage mass protests tion moves forward,” Willis Jenna Sellitto, a spokesper- Jan. 4, 2021, and comments
investigating him. if he is mistreated by them. wrote. son for the FBI in Atlanta, made during December 2020
In her letter, Willis quoted confirmed receipt of the let- Georgia legislative commit-
Fulton County District At- comments Trump made at She added that her office has ter but declined to comment tee hearings on the election.
torney Fani Willis on Sun- the rally. already taken steps to address further.
day wrote a letter to the FBI security concerns “consider- In a statement earlier this
office in Atlanta asking for a “If these radical, vicious, rac- ing the communications we In his pushback against the month, Trump said his call
risk assessment of the county ist prosecutors do anything have received from persons various investigations cen- to Raffensperger was “per-
courthouse, where her of- wrong or illegal, I hope we are unhappy with our commit- tered on him, Trump has fect” and said he did not say
fice is located, and govern- going to have in this country ment to fulfill our duties.” taken particular aim at New anything wrong. Graham has
ment center. She also asked the biggest protest we have She said she’s also working York Attorney General Leti- also denied any wrongdoing.

Ahmaud Arbery’s parents object to DOJ’s hate crime plea deal

(AP) — Federal prosecu- ments were filed with the Arbery because they reason-
tors have proposed a plea “Ahmaud is a kid you can- court late Sunday. There was A national outcry erupted ably suspected he had been
agreement that would not replace,” Arbery said. no mention of a deal with when the graphic video committing crimes in their
avert a hate crimes trial “He was killed racially and their co-defendant, William leaked online two months neighborhood. Travis McMi-
for the son and father we want 100% justice, not no “Roddie” Bryan. No details later. Georgia was one of just chael testified he opened fire
convicted of murdering half justice.” were disclosed in court Mon- four U.S. states without a only after Arbery attacked
Ahmaud Arbery. His par- day morning. Federal pros- hate crimes law at the time. him with fists and tried to
ents denounced the deal Cooper-Jones described the ecutors didn’t mention the Legislators quickly approved grab his shotgun.
on Monday, and the judge U.S. Justice Department’s deals in the court’s morning one, but it came too late for
proceeded with plans to decision to propose the plea session. state hate crime charges in The federal judge ordered
summon potential jurors deal despite her objections as Arbery’s killing. that a jury pool be chosen
next week. “disrespectful.” Federal deals would not af- from throughout the South-
fect state murder convictions During the state trial in Glynn ern District of Georgia,
Arbery’s mother, Wanda “I fought so hard to get these in Arbery’s killing. All three County Superior Court, the which covers 43 counties, to
Cooper-Jones, will ask the guys in the state prison,” men were sentenced to life in defense argued that the white improve odds of seating a fair
judge when the pretrial hear- she said. “I told them very, prison on Jan. 7 after a trial men had authority to chase and unbiased jury.
ing resumes Monday after- very adamantly that I wanted last fall.
noon to reject the deal, her them to go to state prison and
lawyer, Lee Merritt, told re- do their time. ... Then I got The hate crime charges ac-
porters outside the federal up this morning and found cuse McMichaels and Bryan
courthouse in Brunswick. out they had accepted this ri- of violating the 25-year-old
diculous plea.” Black man’s civil rights by
The slain man’s father, Mar- chasing him through their
cus Arbery, told reporters he’s U.S. District Judge Lisa God- neighborhood in coastal
“mad as hell” over the deal, bey Wood continued prepa- Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020.
which Merritt said could en- rations to summon sum- The McMichaels armed
able Travis and Greg McMi- moning the first 50 potential themselves and pursued Ar-
chael to spend the first 30 jurors to the courthouse on bery in one pickup truck
years of their life sentences Monday, Feb. 7, for ques- while Bryan joined the chase
in federal prison, rather than tioning. in another and recorded vid-
state prison where conditions eo of Travis McMichael blast-
are tougher. The proposed plea agree- ing Arbery with a shotgun.