by Stanley Dunlap, Georgia Recorder
May 16, 2025

A new Georgia law clarifies the power of legislative committees to issue subpoenas following a legal battle between Republican state senators and Democratic Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

The signing of Senate Bill 255 by Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday enacted a law that defines the power of state legislative committees to compel witnesses to testify and provide evidence.

Kemp issued an unusual signing statement warning state lawmakers to use the new law with discretion. The statement says that the law provides clear procedures for issuing subpoenas rather than creating new responsibilities for the General Assembly.

Kemp urged lawmakers to proceed with caution when using the tool for investigations.

“The General Assembly has a well-earned reputation for putting the business of legislating—and the people of Georgia—first,” Kemp wrote. “Americans of all political leanings have lamented the ineffectiveness of the United States Congress, in no small part due to the abundance of politically motivated ‘investigations’ which only generate sound bites and distract from important legislation.”

Athens Sen. Bill Cowsert introduced the bill this year as a response to a prolonged legal battle as Willis refused to appear before a special committee he chairs investigating Willis for potential financial and ethical violations related to the Fulton County 2020 election interference investigation.  

Republican supporters of the new law claim that it does not expand current legislative powers, but rather explains how committees are able to legally exercise their subpoena powers. 

Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill, citing the possibility that investigative legislative committees would misuse their subpoena powers against perceived political opponents, such as elected officials and public advocacy groups.

Under the new law, any dispute over the enforcement of the state lawmakers’ subpoena would be resolved by a local superior court.

The Senate Special Committee on Investigations case is at a standstill awaiting a final court order to determine whether Willis will be required to testify. The committee is also requesting that Willis turn over a trove of documents and other evidence as of their investigation. 

Willis came under fire last year when she admitted to a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she hired to lead the sweeping felony election interference case following former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Republican Donald Trump.

The Fulton district attorney was disqualified last year due to prosecutorial misconduct allegations involving her romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor who brought the case against Trump and 18 of his allies accused of illegally trying to overturn Georgia’s election results.

Cowsert’s Senate Special Committee on Investigations is expected to expand its list of targets this year as it opens a probe into the relationship between Stacey Abrams and New Georgia Project following a Jan. 15 settlement in a 2019 case alleging illegal campaign contributions to Abrams’ 2018 Democratic gubernatorial campaign.

Cowsert, a lawyer, launched his campaign to become Georgia’s next attorney general this spring by proclaiming his “fearless commitment to law and order” which included leading investigations into allegations of unethical conduct by Willis and financial improprieties between Abrams-related groups.

“DA Fani Willis, NY AG Letitia James, and other partisan prosecutors have undermined public confidence in the fairness of our criminal justice system,” Cowsert said. “Their abuse of power is a threat to the rule of law, and it’s time to put an end to the weaponization of our justice system.” 

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post New law breathes life into Georgia Senate panel probe of Fulton DA Willis, Stacey Abrams appeared first on georgiarecorder.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

The content presents a relatively balanced view, detailing the legislative actions and legal disputes surrounding Georgia’s new subpoena law and its implications. However, the framing leans toward a conservative perspective by emphasizing criticisms of Democratic figures, particularly District Attorney Fani Willis and activist Stacey Abrams, highlighting potential political motivations behind their actions. The article also quotes Republican lawmakers, such as Bill Cowsert, asserting that investigations into perceived Democratic misconduct are necessary for transparency, which could be interpreted as supportive of the Republican position on these issues. The law’s signing by Republican Governor Brian Kemp further strengthens the Center-Right bias. The Democratic opposition to the bill is mentioned but does not receive as much prominence in the overall tone of the piece.

by Ross Williams, Georgia Recorder
May 15, 2025

Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch is looking to become the state’s next lieutenant governor. Gooch announced his campaign for the 2026 race with a press release Wednesday.

“I’m running for Lieutenant Governor because Georgia deserves bold leadership that will stand up to the insanity of the Democrat Party, protect our families from the invasion of criminal illegal aliens and keep our economy vibrant and strong,” he said in the release. “I see a Georgia that is the gold standard for our great country — a state that leads the way in securing our borders, stopping violent crime, abolishing the state income tax and defending the values that make America great.”

The Dahlonega Republican has served in the Senate since 2010 and was elected majority leader in 2022. He owns a private environmental services company in Dahlonega.

The lieutenant governor is elected on a separate ticket from the governor and presides over the state Senate.

In his announcement, Gooch calls himself a “die-hard MAGA supporter,” a “MAGA champion” and a “consistent and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump” who is “unapologetically pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-school choice” and will “proudly stand with President Trump and will continue fighting to restore the greatness of our country.”

Earlier this year, Gooch was lead sponsor of a bill creating a Georgia license plate stamped with “America First,” a slogan used by Trump. The bill was recently signed by Gov. Brian Kemp.

The same American flag design on the license plate tops his campaign website and the letterhead for his press release.

Gooch’s only declared Democratic rival, Sandy Springs state Sen. Josh McLaurin, scoffed at the focus on the White House occupant.

“The Majority Leader appears to have made his MAGA license plate bill the centerpiece of his campaign launch. I think that choice makes the point about how the GOP primary is going to go: it’s going to be about who can suck up the most to Trump,” he said.

The GOP primary could be a crowded race, with several powerful Senate Republicans reportedly considering runs.

Sen. Blake Tillery of Vidalia has filed paperwork to run for the office. Senate President Pro Tem John Kennedy of Macon and Sen. Greg Dolezal of Cumming are also rumored to be on the list of potential candidates. Any candidate will likely face pressure to appear maximally conservative in a party primary likely to attract the most committed Republican voters.

The current lieutenant governor, Jackson Republican Burt Jones, could run for re-election, but with Kemp approaching his term limit, Jones is widely expected to launch a campaign for governor. If he does, he’ll join a slate of candidates that is likely to expand but for now includes Republican Attorney General Chris Carr and Atlanta Democratic Sen. Jason Esteves.

Georgia Recorder is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Georgia Recorder maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor John McCosh for questions: info@georgiarecorder.com.

The post Powerful Dahlonega state Sen. Steve Gooch jumps into 2026 Georgia lieutenant governor race appeared first on georgiarecorder.com

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Right-Leaning

The article displays a right-leaning bias through its focus on Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch’s campaign announcement, highlighting his support for President Donald Trump and his conservative stances on issues like abortion, the Second Amendment, and school choice. The use of “MAGA” and “America First” language, along with the mockup of a Trump-inspired license plate, emphasizes Gooch’s alignment with right-wing ideals. While it includes a counterpoint from his Democratic rival, the overall tone and content suggest a sympathetic portrayal of Gooch’s candidacy and the conservative political environment in Georgia.

SUMMARY: FOX 5 News Edge anchors conducted a taste test of the new Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Sandwiches unveiled by parent company Kilonova, available at Walmart. The flavors tested were Strawberry, Brown Sugar Cinnamon, and Chocolate Fudge. DJ Shockley was skeptical, calling them a “no,” while others were more optimistic. They all tried the sandwiches together, noting the challenge of toasting with ice cream inside. The Strawberry flavor emerged as the favorite, praised for its classic taste. Brown Sugar Cinnamon was less popular, and Chocolate Fudge received mixed reactions. Despite some hesitation, the novel ice cream sandwiches sparked curiosity and viral social media buzz.

Last week, the anchors on FOX 5 News Edge at 11 p.m. reported on Pop-Tarts coming out with a new line of ice cream sandwiches. The product has gone viral and now the team gets to try it themselves.

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