Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger ruled on Friday that Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) can remain on the state’s ballot in the upcoming midterm elections.
The ruling is in response to a quest by some residents of the state to boot Greene off the ballot due to statements regarding the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol.
According to Raffensperger, the challengers did not provide enough evidence that the lawmaker is not qualified to hold office, adding that her political statements are “a question for the voters of Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.”
“Judge Beaudrot issued his Initial Decision on May 6, 2022, finding that Challengers have failed to prove their case by a preponderance of the evidence and that Respondent is qualified to be a candidate for Representative for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District. Judge Beaudrot’s Initial Decision and Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law are hereby ADOPTED. Therefore, IT IS HEREBY DECIDED that Respondent Marjorie Taylor Greene is QUALIFIED to be a candidate for the office of United States Representative for Georgia’s 14th Congressional District,” the ruling said.
Raffensperger’s ruling follows a recommendation from a Georgia judge that Greene remains on the ballot. Judge Charles R. Beaudrot maintained the same opinion that “challengers have produced insufficient evidence to show that Rep. Greene ‘engaged’ in that insurrection after she took the oath of office on January 3, 2021.”
Shortly after the recommendation from the judge, Greene claimed that she was “ACQUITTED.”
ACQUITTED. pic.twitter.com/p8aH6rbm01
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) May 6, 2022
If they elect to, the opposing side has 10 days to appeal the ruling from the Secretary of State.
Similar complaints have been filed against GOP lawmakers across the country. In Arizona, a judge dismissed the effort against Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04) and Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05).
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for The Georgia Star News and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Marjorie Taylor Greene” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “Voting Booths” by Tim Evanson. CC BY-SA 2.0
