Judge rules Greene can run
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger accepted a judge's findings Friday saying U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene can run for reelection despite claims she engaged in insurrection.
Georgia Administrative Law Judge Charles Beaudrot issued a decision that Greene was eligible, finding voters hadn't produced enough evidence to back claims. Complaint supporters vowed to appeal.
Before reaching his decision, Beaudrot had held a daylong hearing in April that included arguments from lawyers for the voters and for Greene, and questioning of Greene.
Raffensperger is being challenged by a candidate backed by former President Donald Trump in the state's May 24 GOP primary after he refused to bend to pressure from Trump to overturn Joe Biden's victory in Georgia. Raffensperger could have faced huge blowback from right-wing voters if he had disagreed with Beaudrot's findings.
Raffensperger wrote in his “final decision” that typical challenges to candidate eligibility involve residency or unpaid taxes.
“Challengers assert that Rep. Greene's political statements and actions disqualify her from office,“Raffensperger wrote. “That is rightfully a question for voters of Georgia's 14th Congressional District.”
The challenge from voters in her district was filed by national group Free Speech for People.