ATLANTA (December 20, 2024) — Today, Sen. Greg Dolezal (R–Cumming) announced his intent to file a resolution at the beginning of the 2025 Legislative Session to re-establish the Senate Special Committee on Investigations. Current committee chairman, Sen. Bill Cowsert (R–Athens), has been a key player in addressing concerns about prosecutorial misconduct, with strong support from Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who has prioritized transparency and accountability in state government. This decision follows the Georgia Court of Appeals’ ruling to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney (DA) Fani Willis from prosecuting the election interference case against President-elect Donald Trump and others.
Sen. Dolezal spoke on the proposed legislation, stating, “Yesterday’s ruling by the Georgia Court of Appeals citing the ‘significant appearance of impropriety’ in removing DA Fani Willis from the election interference case, only further validates our body’s justified concerns about the potential need to legislatively address such conduct and decision-making. In addition to Judge Scott McAfee’s earlier reference to the ‘odor of mendacity,’ these developments confirm the pressing need for continued legislative action.
Despite our committee’s lawful subpoena, DA Willis has refused to testify. This, coupled with troubling revelations of apparent violations of Georgia’s open records laws, paints a disturbing picture of an office operating as though it is above the law. This behavior undermines public trust and raises serious questions about the integrity of her office.
In January, I will refile legislation to establish the Senate Special Committee on Investigations to ensure that we continue our efforts to get to the bottom of this and prevent similar abuses of power in the future. The people of this great state deserve a justice system that operates with integrity, transparency and respect for the rule of law.”
Lt. Governor Burt Jones and Sen. Bill Cowsert echoed their support for Sen. Dolezal’s resolution, emphasizing the need for legislative action to restore public trust and hold public officials accountable. Both leaders underscored the significance of the court’s ruling and reaffirmed the importance of the committee’s work in ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in Georgia’s justice system.
“The Senate will not back down in its fight for accountability of taxpayer dollars,” said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. “The appeals court decision to disqualify DA Willis from the case based on a ‘significant appearance of impropriety’ was the right decision. The Senate will continue to fight for transparency and accountability. DA Willis’s refusal to come before the committee is unacceptable and addressing these issues to require accountability will be a priority for the Senate. I want to thank Chairman Dolezal for continuing the work on this important issue.”
“The ruling from the court of appeals is not surprising given the misconduct of District Attorney Willis,” said Sen. Bill Cowsert (R–Athens), current Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Investigations. “I applaud Sen. Dolezal for extending the committee so we can complete our work. Our hearings have revealed serious prosecutorial misconduct and legislative remedies are needed. I look forward to finishing our investigation and passing legislation that restores confidence in the criminal justice system.”
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Sen. Greg Dolezal serves as Chairman for the Senate Committee on Transportation. He represents the 27th Senate District, which includes a large part of Forsyth County. He may be reached by phone at 404.656.0040 or via email at greg.dolezal@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
